Savory, spicy curried ground turkey mixed with soy chorizo, flavored with curry powder and scotch bonnet peppers simmered with potatoes, carrots, and green olives.
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Get Excited for Curry!
This Easy Healthy Ground Turkey Curry Picadillo Twist is a savory, spicy dish that combines curried ground turkey with soy chorizo, enhanced by the bold flavors of curry powder and scotch bonnet peppers. Simmered to perfection with potatoes, carrots, and green olives, it offers a unique flavor that is both vibrant and comforting.
Just look at those creamy, bright yellow potatoes! And the sauce—oh, the sauce!—is simply delicious. The combination of curry powder, hot peppers, and fresh tomatoes in chicken broth truly brings this curried ground turkey dish to life.
Why Curry?
I believe you will enjoy this turkey picadillo recipe as much as I did. It’s a fantastic dish to serve all year round, offering a comforting and flavorful experience for the whole family. Why curry, you ask? I love Jamaican curry with meat and potatoes, so I knew this twist would be the perfect fit.
While I chose not to include raisins this time, compared to a traditional dish, feel free to add them and let me know how it turns out! My blog is all about exploring dishes from around the world, experimenting with what you have at home, and savoring your fabulous creations. Bon Appétit!
What is Picadillo?
Picadillo is a beloved traditional dish that has traveled across Latin American countries, each region adding its unique twist. Originating in Spain, picadillo spread to countries like Mexico, the Philippines, and Cuba, which evolved into the popular versions we know today.
The Mexican version often includes spices like cinnamon and cloves, giving it a slightly sweet undertone. In the Philippines, picadillo is typically served as a soup with ground meat, potatoes, and vegetables. The Cuban version, which I grew up eating, is a more savory stew-like dish, usually featuring ground beef, tomatoes, and green olives.
The Cuban Influence
Although I am Haitian, Cuban food is integral to my upbringing in South Florida culture. Growing up in Little Haiti, a neighborhood rich with Cuban and Haitian influences, I fondly remember Salsa and Kompa music filling the air, Mom and Pop shops lining the streets, and vibrant community life shaping my childhood.
My grandma, a staple in our neighborhood, was known for serving hot dishes to anyone who wanted a plate. This picadillo-inspired dish is a nostalgic nod to those times, blending the flavors and memories of a community I dearly miss.
She didn't serve Picadillo, but this dish was nearby, like many other Cuban dishes. For instance, you had Pastelitos with Guayaba (guava), Cuban bread, and someone's Island version of stewed chicken with white rice and black beans, served with sweet or savory fried plantain.
Are you looking for authentic Cuban recipes? Check out Fat Girl Hedonist and My Big Fat Cuban Family.
The Global Evolution
Growing up, I knew picadillo as a Cuban dish. I remember the savory ground beef-flavored sauce, plump raisins, and creamy diced potatoes, which are nostalgic and filled with great memories. But later in life, I learned it was also made in Mexico and the Philippines.
I also remember watching two different Cuban chefs, my co-workers, making large batches in the banquet kitchen, but with differences based on how their parents made it. Additionally, I feel like Cuban food is close to Haitian comfort food, always having a side of rice and stewed meats and fish with sauce, with long sliced onions and bell pepper, and the "you better not forget" side of fried plantains.
This might be because the Caribbean islands have significant African and European influence. For example, check out African food from Ghana to Nigeria; you'll see a lot of dishes served with a side of fried plantain and rice. On top of that, you can also see the European, Spanish, and French influence from the rich tomato-based sauces popularly used in many recipes.
More Curry Recipes
I love all types of curries. If you are a big fan like me, you must try the Curry Lentil Turkey Stew. Or try a super simple Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Chickpeas Vegetable Curry. And if you are in the mood for a hearty vegetarian meal, try the Herb Panko Tofu with Curried Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions recipe. This has no curry, but it is a delicious vegetarian breakfast: Piquant Chorizo Beans and Eggs Skillet. And don't miss out on this Loaded Cheesy Ground Turkey Red Lentil Pasta, another yummy ground turkey meal.
Ingredients and Steps
To prepare the dish, heat a medium sauté pan with olive oil over medium-high heat and cook the onions until almost translucent, then add garlic and cook briefly. Add red bell peppers and tomatoes, heating them through. Next, add soy chorizo, ground turkey, salt, and pepper, and mix well with the vegetables.
Create a small space in the center of the pan, pour in dry white wine, and allow the alcohol to evaporate before mixing it into the meat. Add potatoes, carrots, salsa, broth, curry powder, cumin, paprika, thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, and olives, then combine, cover, and simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes.
Check the potatoes for tenderness and reduce any excess liquid if needed. Serve the dish with a side of rice, and consider pairing it with fresh avocado.
Culinary Glossary
This section provides concise definitions of key ingredients and techniques to enhance understanding and improve cooking skills related to this recipe. Check out the live Culinary Glossary here.
- Picadillo - A traditional dish from Latin American countries, typically made with ground meat, tomatoes, and various spices.
- Jamaican Curry Powder - A spice blend used in Jamaican cuisine, giving dishes a rich and aromatic flavor with a kick of heat.
- Scotch Bonnet Peppers - A chili pepper known for its intense heat and fruity flavor, commonly used in Caribbean cooking. You can use the fresh pepper or sauce. Learn more about prepping chili peppers here.
- Soy Chorizo - A plant-based version of chorizo, providing a similar spicy and smoky flavor without the meat. However, this can be substituted for regular chorizo.
See this delicious turkey picadillo's recipe card for quantities below.
Suggested Sides
Fresh slices of avocado with baked or fried sweet plantains, "maduros," and a salad with your favorite dressing will go great with this curried ground turkey recipe.
Substitutions
Dairy Free
- Yay! This recipe is already dairy-free.
Gluten-Free
- Bonus! This recipe is gluten-free.
Vegetarian
- Ground Turkey - To make this dish vegetarian, replace the ground turkey with extra soy chorizo, crumbled tofu, or plant-based ground meat for a hearty texture and flavor. Or replace the meat with black beans for a vegetarian twist.
Convenience
- Ground Turkey - Substitute with lean ground turkey, ground beef, or chicken if that's what you have. Or add some ground pork for a slightly fattier and more flavorful dish with the meat.
- Soy Chorizo - Use regular chorizo or any other spicy sausage.
- Potatoes - Swap with sweet potatoes for a different flavor profile.
- Carrots - Replace with more bell peppers. Or add zucchini and/or green beans for an extra crunch and nutrients.
- Green Olives - Substitute with capers for that tangy, salty taste or omit.
- Fast Preparation - Some markets will sell the onions and carrots already diced. You can also use a pre-prepared mirepoix mix. It will usually contain onions, celery, and carrots, which will be fine if you wish to add this.
- Red Tomatillo Salsa - When referring to salsa, I usually use red tomatillo salsa. It is usually a hot puree sauce with ingredients similar to chunky salsa.
- Instead of or in combination with tomatoes, tomatillos are used with various chilies (e.g., Anaheim, dried smoky peppers, arbol peppers), white onions, fresh cilantro, cumin powder, and garlic.
- And some of the mentioned ingredients may also be omitted as well. However, if you can't find this, you can use regular salsa roja, a pureed-style salsa with no chunks. But if you have salsa with the chunks, that is also fine.
- Or just use sofrito or epis.
- Spice Blend - If you do not have individual spices, try using 1 part Jamaican curry powder to ¼ part adobo powder.
- Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce- Substitute the sauce with fresh or use jalapenos, red Thai chilies, or fresh habanero or sauce with the desired amount.
- Brown Basmati Rice - Use your favorite white or brown rice.
Change Heat Level - Modify the curried ground turkey recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.
Variations
Get creative with this versatile dish!
- Golden Raisins - As I mentioned in the introduction, I omitted raisins but added a touch of sweetness. It is usually used in the Cuban version.
- Lettuce Wraps: Serve the picadillo in lettuce wraps for a lighter, low-carb option.
- Stuffed Cabbages in Tomato Sauce - Mix the ground turkey, soy chorizo, cooked rice, vegetables, and spices together, then spoon the mixture into cabbage leaves, roll them up, and simmer in a tomato-based sauce until tender.
Equipment
- Medium Saute Pan (Or Large Skillet) - Don't confuse a saute pan with a frying pan. A saute pan has high sides, like the All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Sauté Pan. In addition, this is great for frying meat, boiling the potatoes, and reducing the sauce in the same pot, which you will do for this recipe.
Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.
Storage
- Refrigerator - To store in the fridge, you can place the curried ground turkey dish in a shallow 2-inch container to cool down quickly. Then, store in an air-tight sealing container. The meal will last up to four days.
- Freezer - Follow the refrigeration process mentioned above. Then, you can place it in the freezer in a labeled, airtight container.
Airtight Food Containers - I interchange glass food storage containers with plastic clipping lids or wooden push-ins. I always suggest glass storage containers because they can be microwaved, they hold food without staining, and the glass keeps the food at a more stable temperature, keeping it fresher and longer. Try the OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Rectangle Food Storage Containers or the Pyrex Freshlock Glass Food Storage Containers.
Cooking tip
- Good quality chorizo, tomato sauce, and red salsa help create the curried ground turkey's rich dark orange color and flavor.
- When making a hole in the center of the pan for the wine, let the alcohol evaporate completely to avoid a harsh taste in the sauce.
Your Cooking Tips Resource Guide - Become a better home cook with tips to help you cook more efficiently on the Cook's Notebook tab. Click here for an extended live Culinary Glossary.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Picar” from Picadillo originates in Spanish and means to mince. Initially, this meat mixture was and can still be found stuffed in pastries for empanadas and tacos.
Additionally, now you can find different versions of Picadillo served from Costa Rica to the Philippines. I honestly want to know how it reached the Philippines.
The Philippines is also a country that was affected by Spanish colonization. But did the Spanish bring this dish there?
They look like unripe small green tomatoes with a leaf life substance that covers the fruit. Like gooseberries. For example, these types of fruits are known as Physalis. In addition, tomatillos are usually roasted for salsas.
Yes, you can substitute ground turkey with ground beef, pork, or even chicken.
The scotch bonnet peppers add heat, but you can adjust the spice level by using less or omitting them entirely.
Absolutely! The flavors develop even more if you prepare it a day before serving and reheat it.
Replace the ground turkey with soy chorizo or crumbled tofu for a vegetarian-friendly version.
This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, but you can also serve it with quinoa or even lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.
Caribbean Recipes
Looking for other Caribbean-inspired recipes like this? Try these:
- Haitian Djon Djon Rice Recipe (Diri Djon Djon)
- Jerk Fajita Trio: 3 Must-Try Recipes for a Spicy Weeknight Cook-Up
- Homemade Pico de Gallo | Fresh Salsa in 10 Minutes
- Easy Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken Fajitas | Oven-Roasted Yum
Poultry Recipes
Looking for other poultry recipes like this? Try these:
- Air Fryer Chicken and Pork Belly Tacos | Easy & Crispy
- Quick Spicy Potstickers | Chili Momo Tibetan Style
- Beituti Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl | Quick and Easy
- Air Fryer Chicken Shawarma | Quick with Beituti
📖 Recipe
Easy Healthy Ground Turkey Curry Picadillo Twist
Ingredients
For the Base
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion small diced
- 3 garlic cloves garlic pressed or minced
- ½ cup red bell pepper small diced
- ½ cup fresh tomatoes small diced
- ½ cup soy chorizo or regular chorizo
- 1 pound ground turkey
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoon dry white wine
For the Vegetables
- 1 cup potatoes large diced
- ¼ cup carrots medium diced
- ½ cup salsa or sofrito / epis
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
For the Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Jamaican curry powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon scotch bonnet pepper sauce or fresh
- 2 tablespoons pimiento-stuffed green olives sliced
- 2 cups cooked brown basmati rice
Equipment
Instructions
- Save time in the kitchen: Read the instructions thoroughly, then gather and prep all your ingredients before cooking! Learn Prepping Tips.
- Make the Base: Heat a medium saute pan with oil on medium-high heat. Then add the onions and cook until almost translucent. Add the garlic, combine, and cook for 30 seconds. Then add the red bell peppers and tomatoes and heat up.
- Cook the Protein: Add the chorizo, ground turkey, salt, and pepper with the vegetables and combine well.
- Add Wine: Make a 3-inch diameter hole in the middle of the pan. Then pour the white wine into the center and allow the alcohol to evaporate—for at least 30 seconds. Then combine the white wine with the cooking meat mixture.
- Cook the Vegetables: Add the potatoes, carrots, salsa, broth, curry powder, cumin, paprika, thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, and olives, combine well, cover, and reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes. Make sure it is not boiling. You don't want the liquid to evaporate before the potatoes are cooked.
- Uncover and check the potatoes and ensure they are tender. If there is still excess liquid, cook for another 5 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce.
- Serve: Plate with a side of rice.
- Side Suggestion: This dish will go great with fresh avocado.
Video
Notes
- Makes four servings of ¾ cup each.
- To make this rice, it can take 35 minutes in the rice cooker to 55 on the stovetop.
- I prefer Sauvignon Blanc, which goes great with spicy poultry and fish dishes.
Nutrition
Video
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