HELLO December! You definitely made an entrance this weekend and finally brought in some cold weather to SC! I’m not a huge fan of the cold, however I do prefer my Decembers to feel a little chilly, that way it’s easier to get in the Christmas spirit! Only 19 more days until Christmas, YIPEE!!! (My favorite holiday of the year you guys)
When the weather gets cold, all I want to do is put on my cozy pajamas, throw in a movie, and cook something warm! I love soups & chilis during the winter, however I have to be very careful with what is in them. Most of your soups & chilis that you can purchase in the grocery store have a lot of sodium and preservatives in them. I have to watch my sodium intake because my body can’t break it down as easily as most 🙁 Plus, I don’t really want to put all of those preservatives in my body…YUCK! When in college I had to quickly realize that I couldn’t live off of frozen meals and cereal. One day I started watching the Food Network and I was instantly hooked! I wanted to learn how to cook! I knew if I did, I could control the ingredients in my dishes and ensure that I was making healthy meals! So that’s what I did!!
Now I am constantly looking for what I should cook next! AND…that leads me to my latest find thanks to one of my favorite bloggers, Sazan Hendrix! So one day I was scrolling through Instagram and Sazan Hendrix posted out a photo of a bowl of chili and GUYS the photo was making my mouth water, it looked delicious, so I had to check it out! I immediately went to her online blog to see what was in this chili! Not only did the pictures make it look delicious but after reading the ingredients its SUPER healthy! Thats a win win for me!!
The next day I took a trip to the grocery store to pick up all my ingredients to make me some of Sazan’s Healthy Turkey Chili! I made sure that all my canned items were reduced sodium or no salt at all…even the chicken broth. (Healthy Bonus)!
This is seriously one of the easiest dishes I have ever made! It takes less than an hour to make! My family and I like to make it the night before and then put it in the fridge for the next day, that way it gives all the spices and ingredients time to soak in and marinate one another! And for some reason it gets better and better every time you heat it up..dead serious!
So if you are looking for an easy to fix & healthy meal, I highly suggest you try Sazan’s Healthy Turkey Chili! It’s perfectly spiced and a great winter meal!
How to Make Sazan Hendrix’s Healthy Turkey Chili
INGREDIENTS
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 pound extra lean ground turkey or chicken (99%)
4 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 (12-ounce) jar of salsa (less chunky the better)
2 (15 oz) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained (optional if you hate beans)
1 (15 oz) can sweet corn, rinsed and drained
Optional toppings: cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, cilantro, sour cream
INSTRUCTIONS
Place oil in a large pot and place over medium high heat. Add in onion, garlic and red pepper and saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently. Next add in ground turkey and break up the meat; cooking until no longer pink. Next add in chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper and salt; stir for about 20 seconds.
Next add in tomatoes, chicken broth, salsa, kidney beans and corn. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes or until chili thickens and flavors come together. Taste and adjust seasonings and salt as necessary. Garnish with fun toppings if you’d like!
*Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/2 cups each.
