Slow cooker turkey stew recipe a la Jamie Oliver

Notice how there's no photo again? I'm so sorry. Remember, that means this dish was distractingly tasty - so much so that we forgot to get out the camera before the plates were empty! I did look on Flickr but there wasn't a picture of MY turkey stew. It was a long shot, I guess. Anyway, the basis for this is a Jamie Oliver recipe from his America cook book. You'll love it. Your kids will love it. Your friends will love it. It's fabulous. And easy.

Ingredients for 4-6:

3 onions, finely sliced
a dab of butter to fry them in
5-800g stew or stir-fry turkey, cut into bite-size pieces
500ml chicken stock made with a cube (or 400 ml if you use the fresh mushrooms)
 Do bear in mind this meant I used boiling water -
       you may wish to add extra time if you start with cold chicken stock
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
EITHER 200 g (1 - 2 cups) finely sliced mushrooms
    OR 15 g dried wild mushrooms (using both would be better still!)
100 ml (1/3 cup) single cream / half-and-half
zest of one lemon
1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
1 clove garlic, very finely chopped

Directions:

If you are using dried mushrooms, pour a couple of tbsps of boiling water over them now and let them soak.

Fry the onions until they start to go translucent in a little butter. Add the turkey to the pan and turn until just coloured - you don't need to colour up every morsel but browning it off will give even more flavour.

Then tip everything up to the mushrooms into your slow cooker. If you're using dried mushrooms, chuck in the soaking juices too - the more flavour, the better!

Cook on Low for 4-6 Hours or High for 2-4.

Turn slow cooker to High if it isn't already and stir in the cream, lemon zest, parsley and garlic. If you're keen to have dinner as soon as possible (given the way this smells, you will be!), then mix these final ingredients together before lifting the lid of your cooker and quickly stirring them in. Don't  leave your lid off for ages then expect the cream not to cool down your dinner! Cook for a further 10 minutes, just to let the flavours mingle.

Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

Verdict:

I am not a stew fan AT ALL but I could have eaten this all night. The turkey was tender and the creamy mix of mushrooms, lemon and herbs was perfect. The raw garlic was fine as it was very finely chopped and cooked in the last few moments. The stew leftovers were even better. After the last Jamie Oliver meal I cooked which was disappointing, I am right back in love with the man. I'm sure my husband will understand. He ate the stew too after all. All 6 guests that night wolfed it down too.