Turkey Chili
I am coming around to the possibility that one can create “as good” dishes using turkey instead of good ole moo cow. It is not the same nor is it fair to compare them that way. It is much better to ask, do I like this chili than to ask is this chili as good as my beef chili. If the answer to the first question is yes, then the second question doesn’t matter. Try it, you might like it too.
Ingredients:
2 Tbs olive oil
2 Pablano chilies, stemmed, seeded and rough chopped
1 medium onion, chopped rough
2 tsp Adobo Spice
2 tso Chili Powder
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp liquid smoke
1/2 cup of tomato paste
1/4 cup catsup
2 tsp Tajin Classic Seasoning
2 cans of fire roasted tomatoes
1 Tbs minced garlic
1/2 cup Tamed Jalapeños
1 Tbs dried oregano
1 bottle of beer (or you can use water)
1 lbs. ground turkey
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 bag of light red or red kidney beans, washed, sorted and soaked over night in 8 cups of water, then rinsed (or you can use 2 14 oz cans drained and rinsed)
1 can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of Pinto Beans, drained and rinsed
Added Heat – add cayenne pepper and spicer peppers (jalapeño, serrano, ghost or habanero), if you like extra spice
2 Tbs Red Wine vinegar
Monterey Jack, Cheddar and thinly sliced scallions for garnish.
Directions:
- In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium, heat the oil until barely smoking. Add the ground turkey, garlic, chilies and onion, then stir, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and the onions are well browned, ~10 minutes.
- In a dutch ovent on medium heat, add the beans, tomatoes, tomato paste, beer or water, ,cilantro, oregano, garlic powder, Tajin and Adobo spices, liquid smoke and catsup. Mix well.
- Mix in meat and veggies from skillet (drain excess oil first if needed). Slowly bring pot to a boil. You may add water to get the right consistency.
- Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cover.
- Stir the chili occasionally and cooking until the beans are soft (~ 1- 1.5 hours). This time is shortened if only canned beans are used. The Chili is done when the beans are soft. Stir in vinegar right at the end to perk things up a tad. Taste one more time for salt and pepper.
- Fill bowls with chili, garnish with Cheddar/Monterey Jack cheese and scallions. Some folks even like sour cream on theirs. Crackers or better yet .. some nice hot corn bread with your favorite cold drink. That’s at least one form of heaven!