Spill the Beans: What's for Dinner?

Posted on February 23, 2023

On cold days like this a big pot of something on the stove or in the oven feels exactly like what the doctor ordered. My husband has a go to chili recipe that balances out my dislike of most beans with a high protein, fibre, and iron content and that our whole family loves. For this particular recipe we substitute turkey meat for the more traditional beef. We really like the slight flavour change and it’s easier on the sensitive digestive systems in our house. But this isn’t just a recipe for those who have food sensitivities. Far from it. We have shared this with friends and family of all dietary ranges and the consensus is YUM!

And, since Spill the Beans is all about reducing food waste and multi-day meal planning, this is also a great dish for freezing and enjoying on the next cold snap (or for lunch next Wednesday).

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lb ground turkey

Half an onion (finely chopped)

1 tbsp garlic (finely chopped)

Half a sweet red pepper (cored and coarsely shopped)

2 stalks of celery (finely chopped)

1 large carrot (grated)

1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped, or 1 tbsp dried 

1 bay leaf

3 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp ground cumin

One can diced tomatoes

1 cup chicken broth (vegetable broth would be fine as well)

Salt and black pepper to taste

One can of chickpeas

Optional

1 jalapeno (cored and finely chopped)

1 can black beans

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Half a cup sour cream

Directions

Heat the oil over high in a large heavy pot and add the turkey meat. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, chopping down and stirring

Add the onions, carrot, garlic, sweet pepper, celery, jalapeño (optional), oregano, bay leaves, chili powder and cumin. Stir to blend well. Cook for 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, black beans (optional), chicken broth, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.

Serve in bowls with cheddar cheese and sour cream, if desired.

Let us know what you think! If you have a favorite recipe for multi-day meals or leftover creations you’d like me to share with the world, send it to crystal@greencalgary.org. I’d love to learn how you keep food waste down in your home.