Gluten-Free Three-Bean Turkey Chili Recipe

Healthy Turkey Three Bean Chili, originally uploaded by A Gluten-Free Guide.

My sister-in-law, Jenn, is becoming one of my favorite food confidants. She recently called me asking for advice on salads to make. While, I love this salad, I recommended that during winter she explore some warm and hearty soups and wait for warmer weather for her salad adventures. Since we are both looking for healthy everyday recipes, I decided to experiment with turkey chili and report back on the results. This healthy, heart-warming winter recipe is surprisingly rich and flavorful without a lot of fat or calories. While cinnamon and cocoa powder may usually be associated with sweet rather than savory recipes, they add a complexity to the flavors here that won't disappoint. If you are looking for another savory recipe that highlights chocolate, try my homemade gluten-free tamales recipe.

While there are a lot of ingredients in the turkey chili recipe, it's still pretty simple to prepare. Since I was cooking for just little ol’ me, I froze the leftovers in single serving containers and was able to enjoy the fruits of my labors for lunch or dinner for much longer, whenever the craving struck. The optional topping of cilantro and plain low-fat yogurt or light sour cream really highlights the spices. I hope Jenn enjoys the chili as much as I did.

Turkey Chili Prep, originally uploaded by A Gluten-Free Guide.

Gluten-Free Three Bean Turkey Chili Recipe (adapted from Epicurious)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
2 seeded minced jalapenos
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
1/4 cup chili powder
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
3 cups chicken stock or canned gluten-free broth
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1 15-ounce cans small white beans, rinsed, drained
1 15-ounce cans kidney beans, rinsed, drained
1 15-ounce cans black beans, rinsed, drained

Chopped fresh cilantro
Plain low-fat yogurt or light sour cream

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until light brown and tender, about 10 minutes. Add oregano and cumin; stir 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high. Add turkey; stir until no longer pink, breaking up with back of spoon. Stir in chili powder, bay leaves, cocoa powder, salt and cinnamon. Add tomatoes with their juices, breaking up with back of spoon. Mix in stock and tomato sauce. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add beans to chili and simmer until flavors blend, about 10 minutes longer. Discard bay leaves. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium-low heat before continuing.)

Ladle chili into bowls. Pass cilantro and yogurt separately.