Hairy Bikers Turkey Chilli Recipe

Hairy Bikers turkey chilli is a one-pot meal with turkey mince, black beans, sweetcorn, and chipotle paste that takes just 15 minutes from pan to plate. It comes from the Hairy Dieters Make It Easy cookbook at only 252 calories per serving, which makes it one of the lightest dishes in the whole book.

Si and Dave say the trick is to not rinse the black beans before adding them, because the starchy liquid from the tin thickens the sauce naturally. That means you get a rich chilli without flour or extra fat, and the whole thing stays under 260 calories.

The other detail worth noting is the chipotle paste, which gives you a deep smoky heat that turkey mince on its own would never reach. Si and Dave suggest 1 to 2 teaspoons depending on how hot you want it, so start with one and taste before adding more.

Hairy Bikers Turkey Chilli Recipe

Author: Alex Saidani Cooking Method:Frying Cuisine:British Mexican Courses:Dinner

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 5 minutesCook time: 10 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time: 15 minutesServings:4 servingsCalories:252 kcal Best Season:Summer

Description

A 15-minute diet chilli from Si and Dave’s Make It Easy, built on turkey mince, black beans, and chipotle with sweetcorn and fresh coriander. Serves 4 at 252 calories, no flour, no cream, no compromise.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 bunch of spring onions, sliced into rounds
• 1 red pepper, diced
• Small bunch of coriander, stems finely chopped, leaves reserved
• 300g turkey mince
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 1-2 tsp chipotle paste
• 400g can of black beans, drained but not rinsed
• 150g sweetcorn
• Sea salt and black pepper
• Lime wedges, to serve

Instructions

1. Fry the veg: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan, then add the spring onions and red pepper. Fry over a high heat for 2 minutes.
2. Brown the turkey: Add the chopped coriander stems and turkey mince, then continue cooking over high heat for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly to break up the mince.
3. Add spices and beans: Stir in the cumin, garlic powder, cinnamon, tomato purée, and chipotle paste. Add the black beans and sweetcorn with 150ml of water, then season with salt and pepper.
4. Simmer: Cook for 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened without going dry. Serve sprinkled with coriander leaves and a squeeze of lime.

Keywords:hairy bikers turkey chilli, turkey mince chilli, speedy turkey chilli

FAQs

Can I use chicken mince instead of turkey?

Chicken mince works here since the chipotle and spices do the heavy lifting on flavour. Turkey is leaner though, so if you swap to chicken thigh mince the dish will be a bit richer. Breast mince keeps it closest to the original calorie count.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Si and Dave suggest swapping the turkey for 300g of cooked lentils rather than adding more beans, because lentils give the chilli more texture. They also say quorn mince works if you prefer it, and you just add it at the same point as the turkey.

Why not rinse the black beans?

Most recipes say to drain and rinse tinned beans, but Si and Dave leave the starchy liquid in this one deliberately. It acts as a natural thickener for the sauce, which matters when the whole dish only cooks for 5 minutes. Rinsing them would give you a thinner, waterier chilli that needs longer to reduce.

Does this freeze well?

Si and Dave confirm it freezes well but say to leave out the fresh coriander leaves before freezing, then add them fresh when you reheat. The chilli keeps in the freezer for up to 3 months and reheats on the hob or in the microwave.

What do I serve this with?

In Make It Easy, Si and Dave suggest tortillas, rice, or cauliflower rice for a lighter option. It also works well over a baked sweet potato with a spoonful of yoghurt. If you want something heartier with beef instead, the Hairy Bikers chilli con carne uses both mince and diced steak with dark chocolate.