Turkey Chili

By minicoopercraig

Though it's never been a shy subject to profess anyones undying love for chili, it's not without it's dangers, namely soaring sodium counts and reliance on fatty ground beef. Go lean by using ground turkey and build flavor with spices, beer and a bit of chocolate.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp canola oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 lb lean ground turkey
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1 piece (1 oz) dark chocolate or 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 bottle or can (12 oz) dark beer
• 1 Tbsp chopped chipotle pepper
• 1 can (28 oz) whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 can (14 oz) white beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can (14 oz) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Hot sauce or cayenne (optional) to taste
• Raw onions, shredded cheese, chopped scallions, lime wedges, sour cream (optional)

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the cumin, oregano, chili powder, cinnamon and bay leaves and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the spices are very fragrant.
Add the turkey and tomato paste and stir with a wooden spoon until the turkey is no longer pink. Add the chocolate, beer, chipotle and tomatoes, squeezing each tomato between your fingers so that it's still chunky but not whole. Turn down the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
Add the beans and season with salt and pepper. Taste; if you like your chili hotter, add your favorite hot sauce or a few pinches of cayenne. Cook until the beans are hot. Serve topped with your choice of optional garnishes.