Entertain the Possibilities - Home cooking becomes a special occasion; Get recipes, photos, tips and playlists
  • Blog
  • About

Turkey Chili

3/31/2020

2 Comments

 
Turkey Chili
Cooking under quarantine -- Turkey Chili offers up some comfort
I am not a recipe developer, just a home cook trying new recipes and tweaking old favorites. I will always credit sources and note where I’ve made changes. Photos are my own; you can tell I’m a work in progress. Showing you the steps along the way is what sets us apart from the bazillion +1 other food blogs. That and the bitchin’ playlist that comes with each post. Let’s get to it.
More comfort food. I have a feeling this will be an overarching theme here at the blog for a while as we continue to hunker down at home.
​
Fair warning: Chili purists of any stripe should keep on scrolling. There’s not much here that will please you. 
There’s not much of a recipe either. To me, chili is improv theater with the pantry and fridge as co-collaborators. That’s how we ended up with carrots and three kinds of fresh peppers in this batch. Next time will be different depending on what's on hand.  

Today we featured two kinds of beans, ground turkey, the veggies, tomatoes, and plenty of seasonings. You cannot be uptight when making chili. Be willing to have a taste, then adjust the seasonings and taste again. And again, if need be. It’s all good. Chili don’t mind. 
Turkey Chili IngredientsTurkey Chili Ingredients
Soak and cook the dried beans ahead of time. Or use canned, that’s fine. Cook the meat, then set it aside on a paper-towel covered plate.

Cook the onions in the meat drippings until tender and add your seasonings now to infuse the oil.   
​
Add the other veggies and canned tomatoes chopped up medium-small. Cook until softened, then add the ground turkey back in plus all the liquids you plan to include (such as chicken broth, juice from the canned tomatoes, water, etc.) Slow simmer until the chili looks, smells, and tastes delicious. 

Turkey Chili
Turkey chili - ready to serve
Top with whatever you like – cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, avocado, you name it. I like to serve baked potatoes alongside – or underneath – the chili. You do you … as long as it is comforting and satisfying. 
Surprise ingredients:
  • Green enchilada sauce (leftover from a delish Mexican casserole last week)
  • Worcestershire sauce – this is my go-to when a dish needs a blast of umami
  • Red wine vinegar – just a little splash right before serving. Any dish with beans will benefit from a blast of acid at the end. A squeeze of lime juice would also work here. 

Now how about some music. For the pandemic-related tune while you cook, may I present this classic offering from the late, great Warren Zevon. 
And then a jazzy dinnertime playlist . Although this chili would not pass muster with any true Texan (it has beans for one thing, and no beef -- Texas sacrilege!) I'm going to feature a brilliant Texan, David "Fathead" Newman, for your listening pleasure. Newman was known in his own right as a fantastic saxophonist, and as a talented sideman for Ray Charles's early catalog. Please enjoy.  
​
2 Comments
Davida Kristy
3/31/2020 09:15:52 pm

I like to use turkey italian sausage in my chili (with the regular turkey meat). It definitely jazzes up the whole dish.

Reply
Entertain the Possibilities
4/1/2020 09:35:23 am

Great idea, Davida! I'll have to try that next time.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    When home cooking becomes a special occasion - Recipes, playlists, table tips and more
    Picture

    ​
    Entertaining Vintage

    Vintage treasures for the kitchen, home, collectibles, and gifts

    Categories

    All
    Afternoon Dance Break
    Birthday Greetings
    Cookbook Road Test
    Cool Tunes
    Drinks
    Entertaining Vintage
    Fish
    Kitchen Reno
    Kitchen Tips
    National Days
    Party Planning
    Pop Culture
    Recipe
    Savory Bites
    Supper Club
    Sweet Bites
    The Arts
    Travel
    TV
    Video

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to our mailing list

    * indicates required
Proudly powered by Weebly