Turkey and Black Bean Chili
4 strips bacon, cut into ½" pieces
3 lb. ground dark-meat turkey
4 cups chopped onions
¼ cup minced garlic
2 medium fresh jalapeño chiles, minced (ribs and seeds removed, if desired)
3 Tbsp chili powder
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
4 tsp ground cumin
2 (28-oz.) cans whole peeled tomatoes in purée
2 Tbsp unsulfured molasses
1 cup water
4 tsp coarse salt
3 (15-oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Heat your biggest Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bacon; cook until crisp and brown, 6–8 minutes. Raise heat to high; add turkey. Cook, stirring and breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 8–10 minutes.
Add onion, garlic, and jalapeno; cook until soft, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder, cocoa powder, and cumin; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute.
Break up tomatoes with a spoon or your hands (fun!), and stir them in along with the puree. Add molasses, water, and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, partially covered, 30 minutes.
Add beans; continue cooking, uncovered, until meat and beans are very tender and chili is thick, about 30 minutes more. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, cornbread, whatever.
Lookin' good! How's the Stillman's bacon? And is that Dragonwagon cornbread I see?
Posted by: Tammy | January 28, 2008 at 09:15 PM
I forgot to defrost the Stillman's bacon, and I needed only 4 slices, so this is just the nice thick dry-rubbed stuff from the Whole Foods butcher counter. But that is indeed CDW's skillet-sizzled cornbread. Major crowd-pleaser! This chili was a bit much for my kids, but we grownups liked it mucho.
Posted by: Karen | January 28, 2008 at 09:54 PM
The flavoring seems similar to Cincinnati Chili which is one of my favorites. Served over spaghetti which was new to me 10 years ago when I first experienced it. http://whatscookingamerica.net/Beef/CincinnatiChili.htm
Posted by: Susan | January 28, 2008 at 11:01 PM
OMG! I found this recipe through Woulda Coulda Shoulda and made it last night. OMG!
blah blah blah HEAVEN blah blah blah
And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Posted by: GetSheila | February 14, 2008 at 11:14 PM