Turkey Keema

I’m so excited to share this very special 🌶TURKEY KEEMA🌶 recipe! The recipe originally comes from my sister @sofiagambuto’s boyfriend Shaundeep’s mother. Sofia made our family this dish over Christmas and I’ve been craving it ever since. And even though she’s an ER doctor working on the front lines she sent me the recipe this week! Like most family recipes, it is more of a loose guidelines than a concrete recipe so I’ve adapted it and made it slightly more user friendly! Serve with rice, raita or yogurt and homemade naan (@haldbakedharvest has a great recipe) - it’s even better than take out! Here’s what you need:

INGREDIENTS
1 Lbs ground turkey
1 large white onion, roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves
1 inch ginger
1 Chili pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped (Fresno, jalapeño or birds eye work)
1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
1 Tbs cumin
1/2 Tsp black pepper
1/2 Tsp cinnamon
1/2 Tsp turmeric
1/4 Tsp nutmeg
Salt
Neutral oil

INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a food processor add roughly chopped onion and process until finely ground. Remove and set aside.
2. Add chili, ginger, garlic and cilantro to the food processor. Pulse until finely minced and pesto like consistency, making sure to scrape down the sides occasionally.
3. Heat a pan on medium heat and add chopped onions dry with no oil. Cook until all the liquid has been released and reduced, 8-10 minutes.
4. Once liquid reduced add a glug of oil and sauté onions for 1-2 minutes
5. Add aromatic ginger, chili blend and mix until incorporated, 1-2 minutes. You may notice brown bits sticking to the pan, use a few teaspoons of water to deglaze the pan and pick up all those flavors!
6. Add your spices, mix in and let spices toast for 1 minute to really bring out the flavor.
7. By now your onion mixture should look brown as mushy you are ready to add the turkey. Mix in well so all ingredients are incorporated and salt.
8. Turn heat to medium high, continuously stirring and making sure the turkey isn’t clumping until cooked through, about 15 minutes.
9. Deglaze the pan one more time and add frozen peas. Continue cooking till cooked through, 5 minutes. Then serve!