White Turkey Chili Bistro Bistro

Bistro Bistro is one of our favorite restaurants in the Shirlington part of Arlington, VA - this dish has been a regular on their menu since they opened a thousand years ago. It's absolutely wonderful. You turkey folks might have enough leftovers to try it.........

WHITE TURKEY CHILI BISTRO BISTRO

1 cup chopped onion
2 tbs. minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tb. ground cumin, or to taste
1 lb. ground turkey
2 lbs. skinless, boneless turkey breasts, cut in ¾” cubes
2/3 cup pearl barley
2 1-lb. cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 Tb. minced bottled jalapeno peppers (wear rubber gloves), or to taste
6 cups chicken broth
1 tsp. dried marjoram
1/2 tsp. dried savory, crumbled
1-1/2 tbs. arrowroot, dissolved in 1/2 cup water
4 cups coarsely grated Monterey Jack (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions

In a large kettle, cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened. Add the cumin, and cook the mixture, stirring for 5 minutes. Add the ground turkey and the cubed turkey and cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring, until the turkey is no longer pink. Add the barley, the chickpeas, the jalapeno pepper, the broth, the marjoram, and the savory, and simmer the mixture, covered stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes. Stir the arrowroot mixture, add it to the chili, and simmer the chili, uncovered, stirring, for 15 minutes. Season the chili with salt and pepper, ladle it into heated bowls, and sprinkle it with the Monterey Jack and the scallions. Freezes great.