Recipe for beer turkey chili with saison ale.
Apparently there is such a thing as an official Saison Day here in the US and it is coming up! Saison is one of our favorite Belgian ale styles – we frequently have Saison days:) and a few weeks ago we made a delicious beer turkey chili for apres ski in which we gave it the star role.
Ingredients Needed
Let’s talk a little bit about the beer style first. Describing a Saison is an elusive affair. Saisons are fruity but not sweet. They are also not bitter – the hops used to brew them are typically low in alpha acids. They have faint spiciness (sometimes purposefully not so faint) and pleasant flavors such as honey, hay, lemon, pear. They typically have dry finish and are so refreshing to drink. In color they range from pale golden hues to deep ambers (depending on the grain bill), they are hazy, typically medium bodied and very effervescent with lasting head.
Saisons were originally brewed in the French speaking region of Belgium Wallonia. The name itself means ‘season’ in French. These brews had a very particular purpose – to provide safe hydration for farm workers during spring and summer. For this reason they were made seasonally (hence called Bière de saison), during the not very busy work-wise late winter for consumption during the warm weather months. Since their primary function was hydration and not intoxication:) traditionally they were very low in alcohol with ABV of only about 3-3.5%. All the farmhouses in the region brewed a Bière de saison so another common name for the style is ‘farmhouse’ ale.
The original farmhouse ales were made with whatever people had access to locally – both in terms of the grain bill and the herbs, even flowers used to flavor them. Today, the style is typically made with pilsner malts, often times includes malted wheat or other adjuncts such as rye. Typically noble hops are used, very often they are dry hopped. The estery spiciness and fruity character originate from the Belgian Saison yeasts typically used, but other top-fermenting yeasts can work as well, even wild strains such as Brettanomyces (imparting funk to the character).
Today’s farmhouse style ales typically have ABV around 6% and are deemed the most food friendly beer style by many craft beer connoisseurs. If you have not tried the style already, next time you are out and about seek out and enjoy a Saison. We are so excited for you!!
Not only do Saisons style brews make amazing food partners, they are incredible as a food ingredient. Even though our beer turkey chili can be made with several other beer styles, the complex flavors of the farmhouse ale complement it best. We promise.
Once again, we opted for our go to Colette Farmhouse Ale by Great Divide Brewing Co. It is perfect.
The entire time the chili simmers in the slow cooker your house will smell so tempting that you may simply have a beer or two in anticipation. We consider chili one the best apres ski foods out there, but this one is especially well suited for spring apres with the lighter turkey meat literally melting into the ale and bonding with the other ingredients. We use cocoa powder in the recipe and it adds to the complexity of flavors.
Serving Suggestion for Beer Turkey Chili
I am crazy for charred corn tortillas. Since firing up the grill is sometimes not an option I have developed the habit of simply turning on a stove top burner on high and placing a tortilla on top for just a few seconds on each side. Chris usually gives me a shocked look even though he has seen me do this quite a few times:) Sometimes I char a few jalapenos too. They take a little bit longer but the results are worth it.
Beer Turkey Chili (with Saison)
Complex flavors meet light meat. The secret ingredient is the farmhouse ale:)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 serrano chile, seeds removed, minced
- 2 lbs ground turkey meat
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp chilli powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1 1/2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 12 oz farmhouse ales, Saison, you can substitute with a dunkel or a malty amber ale
- 2 tbsp of chicken base, or 2 cubes
- 2 14.5 oz cans of crushed tomatoes
- 2 14.5 oz cans of black beans, rinsed well
Instructions
- Prepare your slow cooker for action.
- Pour all the beer in a glass bowl and set aside.
- In a large heavy bottomed pot heat up the olive oil over medium heat.
- Saute the onion until translucent and add the garlic and serrano chile.
- Stir a few times and add the ground turkey.
- Season with salt and pepper and using a wooden spoon break up the ground turkey.
- Once the meat is browned add the chile powder, oregano and cumin and mix well.
- Add the cocoa powder, stir then slowly add all the beer, scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the chicken base and the crushed tomatoes, stir well.
- Add the beans, stir and bring to simmer.
- Turn off the stove and carefully transfer the chili to the slow cooker.
- Cook on slow setting for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 733Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 164mgSodium: 700mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 9gSugar: 5gProtein: 49g
Marvellina | What To Cook Today says
I’m super impressed by how you guys are able to incorporate beers in your recipes and doing it so well. Now I know what Saison is 😉
CraftBeering says
Thank you:) Saison is mainly whatever you want it to be Chris says…Since different grains and different flavoring agents (not just hops) can be used. My favorite part about it is the dry finish. I am the same with wines, like them dry and not sweet. But yes, beer in chili is pretty much always a winning move. And beer with the chili with beer in it:)
Jas @All that's Jas says
You had me at beer, lol. It’s a rainy day here in Indiana and it’s Cinco de Mayo week – this chili is perfect for both! Pinned 🙂
CraftBeering says
Thank you Jas! Cannot beat beer in chili:)
Aida says
Milena,
What an unusual and refreshing concept for a blog! You found a great niche and the recipes are A+. Can you recommend a craft beer for someone like me who is more of a wine or framboise person (I like it sweet not tangy)?
CraftBeering says
Hi Aida, thank you for stopping by and for the kind words! I think that you could have a lot of fun exploring the Belgian styles, starting with the famous Framboise lambic style. You might also enjoy the Belgian quads, the Trappist beers. Additionally, if you like coffee, chocolate, caramel, toasted coconut there are so many porters and stouts to enjoy. And talking about sweet – Dunkels, the classic sweet finish crisp lagers. Doppelbocks as well, I love those. Just always be sure that the IBU (bitterness measure) is low and that the beer has a malty backbone:)
CraftBeering says
In complete agreement! Nothing like a rainy day to make some saison turkey chili:)
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
As always when I read your posts I’m left with the thought that I really need to drink more beer :). Or at least cook with it more often. This looks great! Have an awesome weekend, Milena!
CraftBeering says
You too Kelsie! Thank you:)