Beans and Greens Chicken Chili

I love a one-pot situation that is full of flavor and health, so I came up with this awesome chicken chili recipe recently. I call it Beans and Greens Chicken Chili. I used black beans, cannellini beans and baby kale to up the healthy factor. Frozen corn adds a pop of color.

You could easily swap out the chicken for ground turkey. Spinach could replace the kale if you aren't a fan. 

This is easy to freeze as well, so double the batch if you would like!

Please note the recipe does not call for any salt. This is due to the Goya Adobo seasoning, which already contains salt. If you wish to swap out the Adobo seasoning for salt and black pepper, feel free! You may also add more salt during your cooking process. I tend to use a lot less salt than most recipes call for. Just a personal taste.

Beans and Greens Chicken Chili

Makes 4 big servings

Ingredients:

 1 onion

1 jalapeno

4 cloves garlic

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 lb. ground chicken

1 tsp. Adobo seasoning

1 tsp. cumin

1 Tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp. coriander

flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 19-ounce can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

5 ounces baby kale

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup- 1 1/2 cups of water, if desired

Lime juice, chopped scallions, shredded cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips to serve

Instructions:

In a dutch oven, add olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and jalapeno, saute for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, saute for a minute. Add ground chicken. Stir until well browned. 

Add Adobo, cumin, chili powder, coriander. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add flour. Stir until well blended.

Add broth, 1/2 cup water, cannellini beans, black beans, corn and kale. Simmer over low heat partially covered for 15 minutes. Stir. Add another 1/2 cup of water if desired, simmer for another 15 minutes. For the third and final time, stir and add another 1/2 cup of water if desired. 

Let chili rest. Serve with a squeeze of lime juice, scallions, shredded cheese and/or sour cream, if desired. 

Jersey Fresh Turkey Chili

I thought up this recipe recently while jazzercising in my basement. Yes, I am an exercise hound. I get my fitness on solo each day with trainer guru type video vixens demonstrating routines all fab and done up with their motivational speak while my pathetic asthmatic lungs gasp for air and I  sweat profusely in my-oh-so-uncoordinated manner rocking designer Old Navy leisure wear. It ain't pretty, but it gets the job done. And I love it. Exercise is such a high.

I will admit, while visions of Jersey Fresh Turkey Chili danced in my head I found myself a few steps behind the Comcast OnDemand - or is it Xfinity OnDemand - workout gal. If she were instructing me in real life, I probably would have gotten a lecture or two. Or maybe she would make me drop on the spot and do twenty pushups - which  I would kill. Totally.

But whatevs, this chili rocks! And the fitness peeps would probably dig it because it is totally healthy and it does not make you feel like a disgusting fat slob after eating it. Yay. It doesn't have that whole heavy factor that so many chilis have.

Yes. You may notice I top it with sour cream and cheese. That's how chili is SUPPOSED to be enjoyed according to legend. Or according to me, the creator of this awesomeness. Honestly, the four toppings: chopped Jersey tomatoes and scallions, shredded cheddar jack cheese and a dollop of sour cream are like a quartet of perfection. Don't mess with it! Trust me.

Jersey Fresh Turkey Chili

Makes 6 to 8 servings

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 jalapeno peppers, minced
1.3 lbs. ground turkey
2 tsp. cumin
2 Tbsp. chili powder, divided
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
2 small or 1 large poblano pepper, chopped
2 corn ears, cooked, with kernels stripped from the cob
1 15.5 oz. can black beans, rinsed
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

To serve:
Fresh tomato, chopped
Scallions, finely chopped
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar jack cheese

In a large soup pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and jalapeno. Saute for 4-5 minutes until glistening.

Add ground turkey. Brown the meat, stirring occasionally. Season with cumin, 1 Tbsp. chili powder and salt and pepper to taste.

Add bell and poblano peppers. Cook for about five minutes so that peppers soften.

Add corn, beans, broth, remaining Tbsp. of chili powder and water. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer partially covered for 30-35 minutes. The corn kernels will separate as the chili simmers.

Stir in cilantro. Adjust seasonings if necessary.

Serve in bowls, topping each serving with fresh tomato, scallions, sour cream and cheese.