Turkey and White Bean Chili with Chocolate

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Today's recipe is a great version of chili. I've never been a fan of ground turkey, but it's low in fat and healthy, so when I saw a recipe in The Bon Appetit Cookbook for chili that used white beans, ground turkey, and just a taste of unsweetened cocoa powder, I was game to give it a try. I did change the recipe a little, but the final result was something I know I'll make over and over. Here in Utah we're praying for warm weather, but I have some of this in the freezer for those remaining cold days I know are still coming.

Turkey and White Bean Chili with Chocolate
(Makes 8-10 servings. Recipe adapted by Kalyn from The Bon Appetit Cookbook.)

1 lb. dried white beans, soaked overnight
(you can substitute three cans of white beans)
1 T olive oil, divided
1 large onion, chopped
1 T dried oregano
1 T ground cumin
1 lb. ground turkey
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. ground Chipotle chile powder (optional, I use Penzeys)
1/4 cup Ancho chile powder (I use Penzeys)
1/8 cup chile powder
(If you don't have Ancho chile powder, just use 3/8 cup chile powder)
3 bay leaves
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
pinch salt
2 cans diced tomatoes (I use Muir Glen organic tomatoes)
4 cups homemade beef stock or 2 cans beef broth plus 1/2 cup water
1 cup (more or less to taste) chopped cilantro (optional)
sour cream and/or grated cheese for serving (optional)

Soak beans overnight or all day in cold water. Pour out water, add fresh water to cover, and cook beans at a low simmer about 1 1/2 hours, or until soft but not mushy. (Be sure beans are as done as you'd like them, because when you add them with tomatoes they won't soften a lot more.) Drain beans and put in heavy soup pot.

Heat 1 tsp. olive oil in heavy frying pan, add chopped onion and saute until onions are soft and just starting to brown, about 8 minutes. Add dried oregano and ground cumin and saute 2 minutes more. Put onion mixture into pot with beans.

Add 2 tsp. more olive oil to frying pan and add turkey. Cook until well done and starting to brown, breaking apart with turner. Add turkey to soup pot. Deglaze frying pan with 1 cup water, scraping any browned bits off bottom of pan, and add to pot.

Add Chipotle, Ancho and regular chile powder to pot (or whatever combination you're using. You could use all regular chile powder.) Add bay leaves, cocoa powder, salt, tomatoes, and beef broth. Simmer on low heat until all ingredients are well blended and tomatoes are starting to break apart, about 45 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in chopped cilantro if using. Let sit five minutes, then serve. Can be served with sour cream and/or grated cheese if desired

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South Beach Suggestions:

Beans are considered a "good carb" on the South Beach Diet and are all right for any phase, but I would probably eat this for phase two or three. Cheese Quesadillas with 100% whole wheat tortillas would taste great with this.