Harissa and Turkey Stew

Inspired by the flavors I experienced while working in Africa, this harissa and turkey stew is equally healthy and delicious!

Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste from Tunisia and Libya.  The main ingredients in this spicy paste are roasted red peppers, serrano peppers, along with various spices and herbs.  This spice paste is very hot and has a strong, distinct flavor profile.

I first discovered this flavor profile when I went to Western Africa for work and have been trying to find harissa spice ever since.  You can find it at some Persian markets, or I sometimes order this one which always works great.  With Fall upon us, I decided to combine this flavor profile into a comforting yet healthy stew!

Tips to Make the Best Harissa and Turkey Stew

While the full recipe instructions are available below, here are some tips to make the best harissa stew.

• Turkey: for this recipe, I used extra lean ground turkey.  This cut of meat is great because it adds lots of flavor, but is lighter on calories and fat.
• Squash: I recommend using butternut squash in this recipe.  Its sweet, nutty flavor and softer flesh pairs perfectly with the turkey and tomato flavors in the stew.
• Harissa: I used one teaspoon of harissa paste in this recipe.  While the stew had a distinct flavor from the harissa, it was not overly spicy.  If you prefer a spicier dish, add more in.  Be careful though, since a little goes a long way with this ingredient!  I recommend adding a small amount at a time to the stew and tasting to see if the spice is to your liking.

While this stew is great on its own, I prefer to serve this over brown rice.  The rice is a healthy addition that fills you up and adds a little more substance to this meal.

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