So, was this last year really the worst year ever? I don’t know. But it was a year, and it was rough. Sometimes bad stuff happens, and it just keeps happening and then there’s some more…Sometimes there’s just so much aggravation, heart break, and disruption that it brings you to your knees. Early recovery can feel like that too. A few things sustained me in my very early sobriety and in this last year when my stomach was tied in knots, but I knew I needed to eat: smoothies, a freezer full of comforting soups, and my turkey chili. It was a favorite among my clients who kept their freezers stocked with it as well.
This comes together really quickly and is a perfect balance of protein, fiber and carbs. Its flavors are layered and complex with the addition of fresh chile sauce and lots of vegetables and by seasoning each step as you go. I often serve it over brown rice with a drizzle of kefir and some pumpkin seeds for crunch.
While it’s not crucial, the homemade chile sauce gives it a welcome complexity. (recipe below) It is simple to make in bulk and freeze.
- 1.25 lbs ground turkey
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 tsp finely chopped garlic
- 1 cup finely chopped mixed bell peppers (I use Trader Joe's in the frozen section)
- 28 oz can chopped tomato (regular or fire roasted)
- 30 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 30 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup homemade Chile sauce, recipe below
- 1 cup plain water (Chile soaking water from the Chile sauce is great here)
- 2 Tbl Chili powder, divided
- 1 tsp cumin, divided
- 1 tsp salt, divided
- In a large pot over medium high heat, brown the ground turkey with ½ tsp salt, and 1 Tbl Chili powder
- Remove from pan
- Reduce heat to medium, and add onion and ½ tsp salt
- cook the onion until translucent, approximately 5 minutes
- Add garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant
- Add finely chopped bell pepper
- with remaining ½ tsp cumin and 1 Tbl Chile powder, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly and breaking them down with the back of a spoon
- Add cooked ground turkey back into pan
- Add canned tomatoes with juices
- Bring to a simmer, cover, lower heat, and cook for 30 minutes
- Remove cover, and add beans and 1 cup water, return to simmer and cook for 1 hour adding more liquid as necessary for desired consistency
