Cinco de Mayo Inspired Turkey Chili
A Kitcheninspirations Original Recipe
Serves 8-10
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried red kidney beans, soaked overnight in water
- 250 g sweet onions, chopped
- 25 g garlic, finely chopped
- 300 mL tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 500 mL water and or chicken stock
- 900 g ground turkey breast
- 1 1/2 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp chili
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 5 g dried ancho chili (seeds and veins removed)
- 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
- 30 mL tequila (a nice smokey one)
Garnish:
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced thinly
- 10 tbsp Greek Yogurt (approx 150 mL)
- 10 tbsp mozzarella cheese
- handful of Cilantro, or to taste
- 3-4 Green onions, finely chopped
- 1 red chili pepper, finely sliced
Directions:
- Pre-heat slow cooker on high. Rinse beans and add to the slow cooker along with the onions, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste and the water and/or stock and give it a good stir.
- Brown the turkey meat in a very hot cast iron pan in batches. Add the browned turkey and juices into the slow cooker in batches. Once you have browned all of the turkey, remove the pan from the heat and deglaze the pan with the tequila, scraping off all the delicious turkey bits from the pan. Add this liquid into the slow cooker.
- Give the chili a good stir. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until the beans are fork tender. If the chili is too liquidy, then remove the lid for the final hour of cooking.
- Serve hot garnished with sliced avocado, a tablespoon of yogurt or sour cream, cilantro, chopped green onion, shredded mozzarella cheese and finely sliced peppers.
I rarely use ground turkey and that’s just nuts. I do LOVE having my friends over for a girly lunch or dinner. John’s wonderful but sometimes it’s like talking to the wall. Uh huh, yep, okay. I have words backed up in my brain that just need to be said.
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That’s funny Maureen, thanks for your comment. I usually ground my own turkey because for some reason, ground turkey is ridiculously expensive here, but this time I found it on sale!
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I need to invite some girlfriends over for dinner—so fun! I always overthink the menu when simple is best. Your chili and a green salad sounds like a hit for any gathering!
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With this group of ladies, we tend to do potluck or go out. But lately, we find it easier and more economical to do the pot luck, and you know how I love to entertain!
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Great pictures and great recipe, makes me think of trying it myself. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you Cecilia, so nice of you to comment on my blog. Hope you do try it, it was rather tasty.
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Your chile sounds delicious Eva! And your party looks like a ton of fun! I so wish we lived closer to one another. 🙂 Love your cherry blossom! Mike and I just did a photo shoot in a cherry orchard. Wild stuff…I’ll fill you in soon. I’m just so happy the weather is finally improving. Hopefully the warmth will last now.
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I wish we lived closer too, you’d be more than welcome to this gathering! The tree was gorgeous but sadly the blossoms only lasted a few days!
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That looks absolutely delicious!
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Thanks Minnie, it really was delicious.
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This sounds delicious Eva! And how pretty is that cherry blossom? Love seeing pics of you too!
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Thank you Lorraine, you’re such a sweetheart!
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Love anything Mexican-related! And although we eat Mexican throughout the year, we always do seem to eat much more around Cinco de Mayo. Great dish — thanks.
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Thank you kindly John, we too love Mexican flavours.
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Beautiful tree, Eva! You must feel the spring every time you look out of the window… The chili sounds really luscious. The turkey’s presence reminds me I used to cook turkey a lot, exchanging other meats for it. I don’t have a slow cooker alas, but reading all the US and Canadian blogs I’m seriously tempted to buy one!
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I didn’t realize that Turkey was something Europeans ate, Sissi. You should get one, they are so handy! I love using mine in the summer when I’d rather not turn on the stove because it heats up the house too much. I’ve even used it outside (you can put it in your balcony) so that it doesn’t hear up the house! I would suggest a middle of the road quality, I can make some suggestions for which functions to look for, if you’d like.
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Whole turkey is not popular, but individual cuts (especially breast “steaks”) are sold in both France and Switzerland in every supermarket and even at the butcher’s, though it’s not as popular as chicken for example. In Poland it’s much much more popular.
Thank you so much, Eva. It’s very kind of you! If I decide to buy a slow cooker, I’ll ask you for advice. (I’ve seen some interesting models on internet…).
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Would you believe I do not own a slow cooker?
Went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden yesterday hoping to still see the cherry blossoms, there were some but missed the peak, next year.
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I love the Brooklyn botanical gardens! I went to visit a few years ago, such a peaceful place. You must come to visit Toronto for our cherry blossoms, it truly is breathtaking! We’ll walk down from my house (to avoid the traffic) it’s only about 20 minutes and we’ll have lunch in the cafe (food is only OK, but it’s right in the park so it’s beautiful!).
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Looky there spring has arrived. I love avocados so this is right up my alley as we head into summer!
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Thanks Greg, we’re hopeful spring is here to stay.
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What a great idea to use yogurt instead of sour cream. I often have yogurt, but not as often have sour cream. I never actually pre-heat the slow cooker. Is this a food safety issue?
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Hi Genie, I did preheat it because I had browned the turkey and didn’t want it to reduce much in temperature when I added it to the slow cooker because that’s when bad bacteria develop. Had I put the turkey in cold with all the other ingredients, it wouldn’t have mattered because everything would get warm at the same rate. I’m a bit paranoid with poultry and the slow cooker.
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The ladies night looks like lots of fun. Your chilli is certainly packed with flavour. I do like slow-cooker cooking. What a beautiful tree you have in the front yard and I’m pleased to say I couldn’t see a single flake of snow in your image! xx
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Thank Charlie, our winter was very difficult this year, Spring is certainly welcome! Ladies night is definitely a fun evening.
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It looks so flavoursome and satisfying! And how nice that you even cooked your own red beans instead of getting those canned ones.
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Thanks Angie, I have become quite annoyed at the amount of sodium in canned beans. Plus soaking them is really easy, so why not!
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hmm, lean, healthy and delicious dish!!!
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Thanks Dedy.
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Smashing looking kitchen Eva! You’ll have to give us a tour sometime 🙂 and I just loved your awning (including the fabric choice) — great diversity of talent sister. What a fun Mexican inspired twist on chili. Slow cookers are just so darn sensible, especially when entertaining because you can just enjoy your guests and relax without having to worry about time issues and hovering over the stove top… love the terracotta plate.
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Thank you kindly Kelly, perhaps I’ll enter it into Celi’s in my kitchen series! The terracotta plate is actually a planter base, I have an entire set!
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Your ladies night looks like fun. I have still to work out what Cinco de Mayo is. When I get time, I will google it.
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Thanks Liz. It’s a celebration to commemorate Mexico’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
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Beautiful blossoms, tasty dish and convivial company … great day.
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Thank you kindly Maria.
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