Turkey Cincinnati Chili

This is a rich and meaty chili recipe, with a really deep flavor from all the spices. I gave it an extra half hour of cooking time and made it the day before, so by the time we came to eat it, it was deliciously thick. You might want to make your own decision on how much pasta, cheese and red onion you want to serve — once you have a forkful, you might realize that you want a bigger bowl!

I’ve never made a turkey chili with cocoa before, but I really enjoyed the warm notes it added to the flavor.

I did simmer the pot with the lid half on, just to keep the liquid from evaporating too quickly, which worked. With all the spices, I didn’t even miss the ground beef. thought the cumin came out a little strong, but all the other spices seemed to blend in just fine.

I enjoyed it over spaghetti, but also on its own, with a baguette, over salad, and mixed in with spaghetti squash. As with most chilis, the flavors deepened the next day, but it was delicious hot out of the pot.

Definitely a winner, and I am going to mix up a batch of the spices to keep in a jar so I don’t have to measure so much next time.

I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and richness of flavor produced by this recipe. I was wary of the ground turkey and by what seemed an excessive amount of green pepper, but the wide spectrum of spices, the cocoa powder, and the molasses produced a hearty and satisfying chili.

I included the oregano and the bay leaf, and also put the kidney beans into the chili, since I prefer my beans to be warmed. I served the chili over multigrain spaghetti and topped it with cheese and red onion—delicious! I also ate leftovers the following day without accompaniments and still loved it. This just might become my standard chili recipe since it is so healthy and tasty.

I am a dietitian with utmost respect for Ellie Krieger and her recipes. This is a perfect example of reduced fat combined with tons of flavor. I knew that turkey Cincinnati chili would be different from the varieties that I usually make, but I thought that this healthy dish was worth a try. Glad I did. The flavors came together in a delicious way, though it’s important to note that the flavors are not at all like Texas chili.

I followed the recipe as written and included all of the spices, even the ones that I am not usually a fan of, like allspice and cloves. It was perfect. Served it on whole wheat spaghetti and used all of the toppings as directed. I used reduced-sodium tomatoes and found that the chili was perfectly seasoned. I am thinking about visiting Cincinnati just to do some chili research!

This smells just like the Cincinnati chili I’ve made for years. I think the version I make is pretty authentic—it’s just like the one served at a local restaurant that specializes in it. This version is flavorful, slightly spicy, and a little thicker than I’d like.

I’d prefer broth in place of water, and more of it. Also, I think the beans should just be added to the chili—otherwise, it’s an extra step to heat them before adding them to the pile of pasta.