Best Ancho Rubbed Turkey Recipes

ADOBO TURKEY WITH RED-CHILE GRAVY

Steps:

• Make adobo:
• Slit chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed. Heat a large heavy skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles in batches, opening them flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until more pliable and slightly changed in color, about 30 seconds per batch.
• Transfer to a bowl and cover chiles with boiling-hot water, then soak until softened, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast spices in a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Drain chiles, discarding liquid, and purée in a blender with spices, garlic, herbs, vinegar, water, oil, and 2 teaspoon salt until very smooth, about 1 minute. Set aside 1/2 cup adobo for gravy.
• Marinate turkey:
• Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons salt evenly in turkey cavities and all over skin, then rub remaining adobo (a scant 3/4 cup) all over turkey, including cavities. Fold neck skin under body, then tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks together with string. Transfer to rack in roasting pan and marinate, covered with plastic wrap and chilled, at least 8 hours and up to 24.
• Roast turkey:
• Let turkey stand, covered, at room temperature 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in lower third.
• Add 1 cup water to pan and roast turkey 1 hour.
• Brush turkey with oil and add remaining cup water, then tent loosely with foil and rotate pan. Roast (if bottom of pan becomes dry, add 1/2 cup more water) until an instant-read thermometer inserted into fleshy part of each thigh (test both; close to but not touching bone) registers 170°F, 1 3/4 to 2 3/4 hours more (total roasting time: 2 3/4 to 3 3/4 hours).
• Carefully tilt turkey so juices from inside large cavity run into pan. Transfer turkey to a platter and let stand, uncovered, 30 minutes (temperature of thigh meat will rise to 175 to 180°F).
• Make gravy while turkey stands:
• Straddle roasting pan across 2 burners, then add 1 cup turkey stock and boil over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 2 minutes. Strain pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into 2-quart measure and skim off fat (or use a fat separator), reserving fat. Add enough turkey stock to liquid to bring total to 5 cups.
• Whisk together flour, 6 tablespoon reserved fat (if there is less, add melted butter), and reserved 1/2 cup adobo in a heavy medium saucepan, then cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 3 minutes (mixture will be thick). Add pan juices and stock in a fast stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil, whisking, then simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

SOUTHWESTERN TURKEY WITH GARLIC-ANCHO CHILI PASTE AND GRAVY

Steps:

• For paste:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Separate heads of garlic into individual cloves (do not peel).
• Pierce each clove once with toothpick.
• Scatter garlic on baking sheet; roast until tender and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.
• Cool 5 minutes.
• Peel garlic, cutting hard tip off each clove.
• Pack enough garlic into 1/2-cup measuring cup to fill (about 40 cloves); reserve any remaining garlic.
• Blend 1/2 cup garlic in processor to form course puree.
• Meanwhile, place chilies in small saucepan.
• Add enough water just to cover.
• Simmer over medium-low heat until chilies are soft and most of water evaporates, about 15 minutes.
• Add chili mixture, oil, cumin, and honey to garlic in processor.
• Puree until smooth.
• Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover paste and garlic; chill.).
• For turkey:.
• Pat turkey dry.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin.
• Spread 1/2 cup garlic-paste over breast under skin.
• If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity.
• Rub 2 tablespoons paste all over outside of turkey.
• Reserve remaining paste for gravy.
• Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey.
• Place on rack set in roasting pan. (Can be done 1 day ahead if turkey is not stuffed. Chill turkey and paste separately.).
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 325°F
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over high heat.
• Add neck and giblets, turkey neck pieces and onion; sauté brown, about 15 minutes.
• Place contents of skillet around turkey in pan.
• Add celery, tomato, allspice and any reserved garlic to pan; pour in 2 cups broth.
• Roast turkey 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Tent turkey and entire pan loosely with heavy-duty foil.
• Continue to roast turkey until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting often with pan juices and 3 cups broth, about 1 hour 40 minutes longer for unstuffed turkey (about 2 hours 25 minutes longer for stuffed turkey).
• Place turkey on platter.
• Tent with foil; let stand at least 30 minutes.
• Reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• For gravy:.
• Using tongs, remove turkey parts from pan; discard.
• Pour mixture in pan into sieve set over large bowl.
• Press on solids in sieve to release liquid.
• Spoon fat from pan juices; add enough broth to juices to measure 6 cups.
• Stir 1/2 cup reserved garlic-chili paste in heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until liquefied.
• Add flour and stir 1 minute (mixture will be very thick).
• Gradually add 6 cups broth mixture, whisking until smooth.
• Simmer until reduced to 4 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes.
• Season with cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

SOUTHWESTERN TURKEY WITH GARLIC-ANCHO CHILI PASTE AND GRAVY

Steps:

• For paste:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Separate heads of garlic into individual cloves (do not peel). Pierce each clove once with toothpick. Scatter garlic on baking sheet; roast until tender and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Peel garlic, cutting hard tip off each clove. Pack enough garlic into 1/2-cup measuring cup to fill (about 40 cloves); reserve any remaining garlic. Blend 1/2 cup garlic in processor to form course puree.
• Meanwhile, place chilies in small saucepan. Add enough water just to cover. Simmer over medium-low heat until chilies are soft and most of water evaporates, about 15 minutes. Add chili mixture, oil, cumin, and honey to garlic in processor. Puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover paste and garlic; chill.)
• For turkey:
• Pat turkey dry. Season with salt and pepper. Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin. Spread 1/2 cup garlic-paste over breast under skin. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Rub 2 tablespoons paste all over outside of turkey. Reserve remaining paste for gravy. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Place on rack set in roasting pan. (Can be done 1 day ahead if turkey is not stuffed. Chill turkey and paste separately.)
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 325°F. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add neck and giblets, turkey neck pieces and onion; sauté brown, about 15 minutes. Place contents of skillet around turkey in pan. Add celery, tomato, allspice and any reserved garlic to pan; pour in 2 cups broth. Roast turkey 1 hour 30 minutes. Tent turkey and entire pan loosely with heavy-duty foil. Continue to roast turkey until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F. or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting often with pan juices and 3 cups broth, about 1 hour 40 minutes longer for unstuffed turkey (about 2 hours 25 minutes longer for stuffed turkey). Place turkey on platter. Tent with foil; let stand at least 30 minutes. Reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• For gravy:
• Using tongs, remove turkey parts from pan; discard. Pour mixture in pan into sieve set over large bowl. Press on solids in sieve to release liquid. Spoon fat from pan juices; add enough broth to juices to measure 6 cups.
• Stir 1/2 cup reserved garlic-chili paste in heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until liquefied. Add flour and stir 1 minute (mixture will be very thick). Gradually add 6 cups broth mixture, whisking until smooth. Simmer until reduced to 4 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes. Season with cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

TURKEY WITH ANCHO-ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Pierce the sweet potatoes all over with a fork; put them in a microwave-safe dish and microwave until tender, about 20 minutes. Halve the sweet potatoes and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash with a fork until fluffy; cover and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, pat the turkey dry and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chile powder and 1 teaspoon salt. Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Wipe out the skillet and place over high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until dark around the edges, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon chile powder and the cumin; cook 30 seconds. Add the broth, heavy cream, honey, mustard, and orange zest and juice; simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the turkey and warm through, 1 minute. Serve with the mashed sweet potatoes.

ACHIOTE BUTTER-BASTED TURKEY WITH ANCHO CHILI GRAVY

Steps:

• Char poblano chilies over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose chilies in paper bag. Let stand 10 minutes to steam. Peel and seed chilies.
• Toast ancho chilies in heavy large skillet over high heat until color darkens slightly and chilies are fragrant, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer ancho chilies to medium bowl. Add enough hot water to bowl to cover chilies. Let stand until chilies soften, about 20 minutes.
• Puree 4 ancho chili halves with 1/2 cup soaking liquid in blender. Add roasted poblano chilies; puree. Season with salt and pepper. Drain remaining 2 chili halves; chill. (Puree and soaked chilies can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Rinse turkey inside and out. Pat turkey dry. Sprinkle turkey with salt and pepper. Cut remaining 2 ancho chili halves into strips. Place chili strips and onion in turkey cavity.
• Mix butter and achiote paste in small bowl to blend. Run fingers between turkey breast skin and meat to loosen. Rub half of achiote butter over turkey breast under skin. Rub butter over outside of turkey. Place turkey in large roasting pan. Tuck wings under turkey. Tie legs together to hold shape. Pour 1 1/2 cups broth into pan.
• Roast turkey 45 minutes. Tent turkey loosely with foil. Continue roasting until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices, about 3 1/2 hours. Transfer to platter. Tent with foil.
• Pour turkey pan juices into measuring cup. Spoon off fat from pan juices, reserving 1/4 cup fat. Add enough remaining broth to pan juices to measure 3 cups. Return 1/4 cup fat to roasting pan. Place pan over 2 burners set at medium heat. Add Masa Harina; whisk until mixture resembles paste, scraping up any browned bits, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in pan juices. Add chili puree; simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. Season gravy with salt and pepper. Serve turkey with gravy.

ADOBO RUBBED TURKEY BREAST WITH CHORIZO CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Toast dry chiles on a grill, then soak all chiles in warm water for ten minutes. Remove them from the water and place them in a food processor with the oregano, white vinegar and chopped garlic. Season the turkey breast with salt and pepper. Rub it generously with the adobo and let marinade for one day.
• Meanwhile cook the chorizo in a skillet for five minutes until fat has rendered. Add onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Cook for ten minutes until the vegetables have caramelized. Add crumbled cornbread, cilantro, chicken stock and salt and pepper. Make sure that the stuffing itself is not dry but at the same time that it is not too wet. Add chicken stock slowly and as needed. With a knife make a four inch pocket on the breast and insert stuffing.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place turkey breast on a sheet pan with a rack and cook/or l and 1/2 hours or until the meat thermometer registers 180 degrees. Slice pieces and serve