How to Cook a Turkey: Turkey Recipes

There can be that many ways to cook a turkey based on the title that stated ‘12 Mouthwatering Ways to Cook a Turkey’.

1. Glazed
2. Infused
3. Deconstructed
4. Brined
5. Crusted
6. Grilled
7. Roasted
8. Marinated
9. Smoked
10 Butter under Skin
11. Rubbed
12. Deep-Fried

So, are you tired of the same old Turkey Recipe? Well check this one out and it has some great ingredients that will make this bird less of a bland horror.

The winner is an herb rubbed roasted turkey recipe that features black peppercorns, garlic, fennel seeds, lemon zest, and rosemary are blended into a paste that gives this turkey breast a flavor that falls between a traditional Thanksgiving bird and Italian sweet sausage.

What to buy: Uncooked bone-in turkey breasts may need to be special-ordered from your butcher.

This recipe was featured as part of our Thanksgiving for Six menu.

INGREDIENTS

* 2 bone-in turkey breast halves (weighing 6 to 7 pounds total)
* 6 tablespoons olive oil
* 3 tablespoons kosher salt
* 8 medium garlic cloves, halved
* 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
* 2 tablespoons fennel seeds, lightly crushed
* 1 tablespoon black peppercorns, lightly crushed
* 1 medium lemon, zested

Or you want to try cider-glazed turkey recipe: for a bird that glistens and is bursting with flavor, brush on sticky glaze when the turkey is almost done cooking. Try this mixture of apple cider, cinnamon, butter, brown sugar, and thyme.

Ingredients

* 1  12- to 14-lb.  turkey
*     Kosher salt or salt
*     Freshly ground pepper
* 4  cloves  garlic, peeled and halved
* 1  small  onion, peeled and cut into wedges
* 1  medium  baking apple, cored and cut into wedges
* 2  tablespoons  butter, melted
* 6  medium or 8 small  baking apples, cored and cut into eighths (such as Golden Delicious, Gravenstein, Granny Smith, Winesap, Rhode Island Greening, Braeburn, Russet, Lady (use 2 lady apples for each medium apple; leave whole)
* 2  tablespoons  lemon juice
* 2  cups  fresh apple cider
* 5  about 3-inch sticks  cinnamon, broken
* 1/3  cup  butter
* 1/3  cup  packed brown sugar
* 1  tsp.  dried thyme, crushed
* 1/3  cup  all-purpose flour
*     Chicken broth
*     Kosher salt and black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Rinse turkey well and pat dry with paper towels. Season inside cavity generously with salt and pepper. Rub one of the cut garlic cloves on inside cavity. Place garlic cloves, onion, and the first apple in cavity.

2. Pull turkey skin to back; fasten with skewer. If a band of skin crosses the tail, tuck drumsticks under band. If no band, tie drumsticks securely to tail. Twist wing tips under back. Brush turkey with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Place bird, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert a meat thermometer into center of one of inside thigh muscles, but not touching bone. Cover bird loosely with foil. Roast about 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours or until thermometer registers 160 degrees F. (Cut band of skin or string between drumsticks after 2-1/2 hours.)

4. Toss apple wedges with lemon juice. Place apples around turkey. Continue to roast, covered with foil, for 30 minutes more.

5. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan bring apple cider and cinnamon sticks to boiling. Reduce heat and boil steadily about 30 minutes or until cider is reduced to 2/3 cup. Add 1/3 cup butter, brown sugar, and thyme. Heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove and discard cinnamon sticks.

6. Remove foil from turkey; brush turkey and drizzle apples with the cider mixture. Continue roasting, uncovered, until meat thermometer registers 180 degrees F, brushing bird and drizzling cider mixture over fruit every 10 minutes. Remove turkey from oven; discard cavity ingredients. Transfer roasted bird to a large serving platter. Surround with apples. Cover with foil; let stand 15 minutes before carving turkey.

7. Pour pan drippings into a large measuring cup. Scrape the browned bits from the pan into the cup. Skim and reserve fat from the drippings. Pour 1/4 cup of the fat into a medium saucepan (discard remaining fat). Stir in flour. Add enough broth to remaining drippings to equal 2 1/2 cups; add broth mixture all at once to flour mixture in saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

8. Makes 12 servings

Turkey Breast Option: Use two 2- to 2 1/2- pound turkey breast portions with bone. Place, bone side down, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan and brush lightly with oil. Roast in a 325 degree oven for 45 minutes. Place apples around turkey. Brush turkey and drizzle apples with cider mixture. Roast, uncovered, 30 to 45 minutes more or until juices run clear (170 degrees F), glazing two more times. Makes 12 servings.
Nutrition Facts

* Servings Per Recipe 12 servings
* Calories725,
* Total Fat (g)35,
* Saturated Fat (g)12,
* Monounsaturated Fat (g)12,
* Polyunsaturated Fat (g)7,
* Cholesterol (mg)262,
* Sodium (mg)479,
* Carbohydrate (g)24,
* Total Sugar (g)19,
* Fiber (g)2,
* Protein (g)74,
* Vitamin C (DV%)8,
* Calcium (DV%)9,
* Iron (DV%)31,
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

We hope you enjoy it and your holiday season.