You may be reading this column the day before Thanksgiving. If you are serving a feast for four or eight or maybe up to 20, just peruse this column. You have enough to do without reading this, but the recipe below may help you with turkey leftovers. (There is no clear segue here, but if you are hosting and see yourself in the weeds, e-mail me ([email protected]) and we will work you through it.)
Many people make soup with the turkey carcass, although I have never loved turkey soup. To me, the flavor is gone after the gobbler has spent hours in the oven. My stepdaughter, Molly, makes a good turkey soup by roasting the bones at a high temperature in the oven and using the bones for the broth. But I often use the leftover turkey for casseroles, enchiladas or even pad Thai.
Or chili.
This recipe calls for a pound of raw, lean ground turkey. Using it, it is the beginning of the recipe below. On the other hand, begin this recipe with the lightly sautéed vegetables After you add the broth, beans and tomatoes, add about a pound or more shredded turkey, and simmer, as the recipe explains. This recipe belongs to a friend’s daughter who adapted the recipe from Cooking Light. I doubled the recipe so it would feed more. I also changed the beans from garbanzo beans to kidney beans primarily because, if you’re on Weight Watchers, kidney beans have half the points as garbanzo beans.
Turkey Chili
Yield: Serves 8
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 (or more) pounds of lean ground turkey
3 cups chopped sweet onion, divided
2 cups chopped green bell pepper (or other sweet peppers)
4 (or more) cloves garlic, minced
2 (or more) tablespoons chili powder
4 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
one-half teaspoon ground cinnamon
one-quarter teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 15-ounce cans kidney beans
28-ounce can diced tomato, undrained
5 tablespoons chopped semisweet chocolate
one-half teaspoon salt
one and one-half cups (3 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Heat a Dutch oven (like a Le Creuset pot) over medium-high heat. Add olive oil. When moderately hot, add turkey and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring to crumble. Add 2 cups onion, bell pepper and garlic; saute about 3 minutes. Stir in chili powder and next 5 ingredients (through allspice); cook 1 minute. Add broth, beans and tomatoes; bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove chili from heat and stir in chocolate and salt. Top with remaining 1 cup of onions and cheese. Stir immediately.