NEW YEAR, NEW (Poultry) RECIPES

I recently received the latest issue of Bon Appetit magazine, and it’s full of recipes to keep you “healthyish” this winter. Let’s be honest, whether you’re the New Year’s resolution type, of just feel like you need to reset after the indulgence of the holiday season, January is a good time to focus on making your meals healthier.

For me, healthy isn’t about looking for “diet friendly” recipes. It’s about taking stock of what my body needs in the dark winter months, where it takes a little more effort to fill your plate with all the vitamins and nutrients that are abundant in summer produce and sunnier seasons. Healthy can often be as simple as taking care of myself by spending a cozy weekend afternoon at home cooking a large meal for my 2-person household, with the intention of leftovers that will easily reheat for a comforting meal on a busy day to come.

I love this chicken and rice dish for its one-pot ease, and you can definitely riff on this recipe, switching up the spices or the beans for your favorite flavor profiles. I highly recommend taking the extra step of cooking dried beans* and skipping the can – you can find sustainable and traceable Primary Beans in our shops!

Get the Recipe: Chicken Drumsticks with Rice and Beans
Cuts to Shop for: Chicken Drumsticks

*Another prep-ahead hack is to cook a pound of dried beans, and freeze what you don’t use (packed in a container with the cooking liquid), so you’ll have them ready for a future recipe

For a more indulgent Saturday night kind of recipe that will still reward you with reheat-friendly leftovers, this classic, French coq au vin made with chicken drumsticks is just perfect for getting cozy with some good wine and good company.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Legs Coq au Vin
Cuts to Shop for: Chicken Drumsticks

In the winter I tend to put kale and dark leafy greens in everything, and sweet potatoes are also a regular substitute for white potatoes in my kitchen for packing extra nutrients into meals. This roasted chicken with (any kind of) potatoes and kale is the perfect Sunday Supper for me, doubling as a healthy and hearty make-ahead meal.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Chicken Legs with Potatoes and Kale
Cuts to Shop for: Chicken Legs

We’ve continued to harvest fresh turkeys this season at Primal Supply, and I’ve been cooking more turkey at home in non-Thanksgiving ways, which has been really fun. I absolutely loved this dark meat turkey chili I recently made for a family gathering – using a mix of those awesome Boonville Barn Collective dried peppers you can find on our butcher shop shelves!

Get the Recipe: Dark Meat Turkey Chili
Cuts to Shop for: Turkey Drumsticks or Turkey Legs

If your idea of healthy is reaching for leaner proteins, ground turkey (or ground chicken) is a great substitute for beef or pork in traditional recipes like meatballs in tomato sauce. Just add a leafy green salad to make sure you’re getting all your vitamins this winter!

Get the Recipe: Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Cuts to Shop for: Ground Turkey or Ground Chicken

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A note about winter poultry: In winter months our partner farmer raises a smaller number of chickens to minimize risk and loss from cold weather. The limited number of fresh chickens we receive each week will sell out very quickly at our butcher shops, however we’ve intentionally stocked our freezer with a variety of chicken and other poultry.