A Bowlful of Chili

The leaves are finally changing color to beautiful reds, oranges and yellows and there is a crisp chill in the air. You know what this means? If you answered rain and snow you answered wrong, but I will give you partial credit. It means Chili time. That wonderful, comforting bowl of love, that when paired with cornbread is the perfect way to end a fall or winter day. I can feel the love and warm feeling in my tummy just writing about it.

Now, you could take the shortcut and buy it from the grocery store in a can and warm it in the microwave, or you can try my recipe that I have painstakingly tried and perfected throughout the years. It is pretty amazing if you ask me, but I guess you will just have to try it out yourself to see if it is as good as I think it is. What better way to spend a rainy day than inside a warm house, the fire going, football playing on the TV in the background, making Chili from scratch as the aromas of the kitchen waft into the rest of the house creating a feeling that can only be compared to as a big hug. That's right, I said it. A big hug. It is that good!



Add shredded cheese, cilantro, red onion and sour cream
 for the perfect finishing touch

Turkey and Three Bean Chili

Serves 20 (5 meals for 4 people)
Prep time: 45 minutes       
Cook time: approx. 2 hours


 Ingredients

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

3 red onions chopped
4 green bell peppers chopped
2 red bell peppers chopped
10 garlic cloves chopped
1 jalapeño fine dice
5 pounds ground turkey
2- 6oz. can tomato paste
5 tablespoons chili powder
3 ½ tablespoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon curry powder
3 teaspoons smoked paprika
5- 28oz cans diced tomatoes
2- 15oz cans kidney beans
2- 15oz cans pinto beans
2- 15oz cans black beans
Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

Directions:

In a large pot, on medium heat add the olive oil, letting it heat slightly, then add the onions (reserve ½ cup of onions as a garnish), bell peppers, garlic and jalapeño, cooking until tender, approximately 10-15 minutes.



Make sure to wash all your veggies

 

Make sure to cut jalopeno

into a fine dice

 

Cut bell pepper into 1/4 in. cubes

A picture of one of the most amazing smells you will ever experience

Once the vegetables are tender, increase the temperature to medium high heat and add the ground turkey making sure to break it up as you cook (my kitchen tool of choice is a wooden spoon for this). Cook the turkey for approximately 8-10 minutes or until the meat has been cooked through completely.

 

Make sure to cook the ground turkey through entirely and mix it in with the veggies

Next, add the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, curry powder and smoked paprika and stir for 2 minutes until fully incorporated throughout.

Smoked paprika and cumin together is my favorite spice combination.
The curry powder was an accident that proved delicious and is now a part of the recipe forever.

Drain and rinse the canned beans in a colander in the sink and then add the diced tomatoes and beans to the pot. Add 1 ½ cups of water and salt and pepper to taste to the pot and bring to a boil stirring occasionally. Once the pot comes to a boil, reduce heat to low heat bringing the pot to a simmer, stirring occasionally, letting all the flavors come together and thicken for approximately 2 hours but longer the better.

That is love right there!
 

 

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