Playing With Spices…Burn Baby Burn…Chili Inferno!!!

I have made chili before, but usually when I make chili, or when I make just about anything, I focus on making it healthy, making sure vegetables are added, etc…I got a rude awakening a few weeks back when my boyfriend said to me that I needed a lesson in seasoning. Excuse me…what did you say? He said my dishes are good, but to him they looked better than they tasted and I need to learn how to season things. He said the basic seasonings might work for my taste buds, but if I am serving other people who are used to eating unhealthy and/or heavily salted foods, I might want to try playing around a bit more with seasonings. 

So I kept that in mind tonight when making a very easy turkey chili recipe. I wanted to play around a bit with the spices and see if I could make it taste delicious without adding more salt and just adding spices. Here are the spices I added and the benefits of each of them…many of you might find this very interesting…

Chili powder-don’t confuse the dried powder with the chili seasoning packets in the grocery store. Those are loaded with extra sodium and who knows what else! The plain powder contains Vitamins A and C and small amounts of minerals such as potassium and phosphorus.

Paprika-contains Vitamins A and E and iron as well as carotenoids, which give it that deep red color. The lutein and zeaxanthin content of this spice also benefits your eyesight by preventing harmful light rays from damaging eye tissues. Just 1 tablespoon of paprika contains more than 100% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin A.

Oregano-is a natural source of Vitamin K and Omega-3. It is also considered an antioxidant, but probably more readily so if you use the fresh version instead of the dry, which I used in my recipe.

Cayenne Pepper-contains Vitamins C, B6 and E, potassium, manganese and flavonoids. Contains capsaicin, which may have pain relieving properties. Cayenne is also known helping burn addition calories because it is so spicy. This doesn’t mean you need to go crazy with it though!!

Cumin-it is said to aid in digestion and digestive disorders. It is also said to help with curing the common cold and anemia.

Ginger-improves absorption of nutrients into the body, aids in digestion, keeps away nausea and stomach ailments. It is also said to help with inflammation and nose/throat congestion.

Black Pepper-aids in congestion and digestion.

Cacao Powder-you are probably thinking…WHAT? But I have heard of real cacao powder giving dishes like chili a little kick, or at least makes them taste slightly more exotic. Raw cacao powder is high in magnesium, fiber, B vitamins and other essential minerals. Some people call this a superfood. I just call it awesome.

I used about a teaspoon of each of these spices in my chili recipe (except the cacao and chili powder, I used two tablespoons!), so overall you would have to eat the ENTIRE chili to get all the benefits, but I am sure a little of each spice helps to some degree. The taste is fantastic, and I have a feeling if you let it sit until the next day and the spices sink in, it tastes even better. This is a ground turkey chili, but you could make it vegetarian by just using beans or adding tofu or tempeh. You could make it paleo by removing the beans, and it’s gluten-free on its own. I added sautéed spinach and kale and had a lovely Monday night dinner.

LOTS O’ SPICES CHILI

1 pound of ground kosher organic white turkey meat

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cups of water

1 (28oz.) can of crushed tomatoes

1 (16 oz.) can of white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

5-6 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons of chili powder

2 tablespoons of cacao powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon sea salt

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Place turkey in the pot, and cook until evenly brown. Stir in onion, and cook until tender.

Pour water into the pot. Mix in tomatoes, kidney beans, and garlic. Then add the cacao and chili powder, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.