Best Apricot Turkey Recipes

GOLDEN APRICOT-GLAZED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Combine preserves, vinegar, pepper and salt. Place turkey breast on a rack in a large shallow roasting pan., Bake, uncovered, 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until a thermometer reads 170°, basting every 30 minutes with apricot mixture. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.) Cover and let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

APRICOT-GLAZED TURKEY WITH ROASTED ONION AND SHALLOT GRAVY

Steps:

• For Glaze:
• Combine all ingredients in heavy small saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 15 minutes.
• For Herb Butter:
• Blend all ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.
• For Onion Mixture:
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and shallots and sauté until very soft and light brown, about 20 minutes. (Glaze, herb butter and onion mixture can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill. Bring herb butter to room temperature before continuing.)
• For Turkey:
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400° F. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin. Spread half of herb butter over breast under skin. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Place remaining herb butter in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted. Brush butter over outside of turkey. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Roast turkey 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325° F. Roast turkey 1 hour 30 minutes, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Tent turkey with heavy-duty foil; roast 45 minutes longer. Add onion mixture, 1 can broth, thyme and sage to pan. Roast 15 minutes. Bring glaze to simmer. Brush 1/2 cup glaze over turkey. Continue to roast turkey uncovered 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, brushing occasionally with glaze and adding more broth to pan if liquid evaporates, about 40 minutes longer for unstuffed turkey (about 1 hour 10 minutes longer for stuffed turkey). Place turkey on platter, tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes. Reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• For Gravy:
• Pour contents of roasting pan into strainer set over large bowl. Spoon fat from pan juices in bowl. Transfer onion mixture in strainer to blender. Add 1 cup pan juices to blender and puree until smooth, adding more pan juices and chicken broth if necessary to thin sauce to desired consistency. Transfer sauce to heavy large saucepan and bring to boil. Cook until color deepens, skimming off any foam, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

APRICOT AND PECAN TURKEY STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat broth in a saucepan over medium heat until boiling, about 5 minutes. Add apricots, remove from the heat, and let sit until apricots are plump, about 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over low heat. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add broth-apricot mixture, apples, thyme, sage, and pepper; stir until combined. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Add bread crumbs gradually, folding them in until stuffing is moist but not sticky. Mix in the pecans. Transfer to a casserole dish and cover with a lid or aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, 20 to 25 minutes.

MA LIPO'S APRICOT-GLAZED TURKEY WITH ROASTED ONION AND SHALLOT GRAVY

Steps:

• Combine apricot nectar, preserves, ginger, and honey in a small saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1-1/4 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Blend 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, 3 tablespoons chopped fresh sage, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Set aside.
• Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onions and shallots; saute until very soft and light brown, about 20 minutes.
• Position rack in lowest third of oven. Preheat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper. Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin. Spread half of herb butter over breast under skin. Rub remaining herb butter over outside of turkey.
• If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing loosely into main cavity; it will expand as it cooks. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey.
• Roast turkey for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and continue roasting 1 hour 30 minutes, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Tent turkey with aluminum foil; roast 45 minutes longer.
• Add onion mixture, 1 cup broth, thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh sage to the roasting pan. Roast 15 more minutes before brushing 1/2 cup apricot glaze over turkey. Continue to roast turkey uncovered, brushing occasionally with glaze. Add more broth to the pan if necessary. Bake 40 minutes longer for unstuffed turkey, and 1 hour 10 minutes longer for stuffed turkey, or until meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F (75 degrees C). Place turkey on a platter, and tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes. Reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• Pour contents of roasting pan into a strainer set over a large bowl. Skim fat from pan juices using a large spoon. Transfer the onion mixture to a blender. Add 1 cup pan juices, and puree until smooth, adding more pan juices and chicken broth if necessary to thin sauce to desired consistency. Transfer sauce to a large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook until color deepens, skimming off any foam, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

TURKEY MEATBALLS IN APRICOT SAUCE WITH MINT AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large straight-sided skillet or braiser over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but no color has developed, about 5 minutes. Remove half of onion and reserve. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, garlic, ginger, coriander, turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to onion in skillet, stirring to combine. Cook until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Transfer to a large bowl, reserving skillet (do not wipe clean); stir breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup broth into bowl with spiced onion. Let cool slightly.
• Add turkey, mint, egg, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to bowl, gently stirring to combine (do not overwork, or meatballs with be tough). With dampened hands, form into golf-ball-size meatballs and transfer to a parchment-lined tray (you should have about 20, each roughly 2 inches in diameter). Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes or, loosely covered, up to 1 day.
• Meanwhile, combine apricots, cinnamon stick, and remaining 2 3/4 cups broth in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until apricots are very soft and plump, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly; discard cinnamon. Transfer to a blender with reserved onion and purée until smooth.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in reserved skillet over medium-high. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in apricot mixture and bring to a boil. Gently nestle meatballs into sauce. Lower heat, partially cover (leaving about a 1-inch steam vent), and simmer, turning meatballs a few times, until almost cooked through and sauce has thickened and darkened slightly, 15 to 17 minutes.
• Uncover and continue to simmer until sauce reduces to a thick gravy, about 5 minutes more. Meanwhile, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add almonds and cook, stirring occasionally, until nutty and golden in places, 2 to 3 minutes. Top meatballs with almonds and mint leaves; serve.

TURKEY TENDERLOINS & APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• You will need a roasting pan lined with foil and coated with nonstick spray.
• Season turkey tenderloins with salt and pepper, place in the prepared pan.
• In a small bowl, combine the apricot preserves, garlic, mustard and soy sauce. Mix well, spoon some over turkey. Roast 35 to 40 minutes, basting frequently with the sauce, until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers at least 160 degrees.
• let turkey rest for 10 minutes before cutting it crosswise into 1/2 inch thick slices.

TURKEY & APRICOT WRAPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and preserves. Spread about 2 tablespoons over each tortilla to within 1/2 in. of edges. Layer with turkey and arugula. Roll up tightly. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until serving.

APRICOT TURKEY PINWHEELS

Steps:

• Unfold pastry; layer with preserves, mustard, cheese and turkey. Roll up jelly-roll style. Cut into 16 slices. Place cut side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet., Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Freeze option: Freeze cooled appetizers in a resealable plastic freezer bag. To use, reheat appetizers on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a preheated 400° oven until crisp and heated through.

APRICOT AND TEQUILA GLAZED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the chiles and 2 cups of chicken broth in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, and then turn off the heat. Let the chiles stand for 5 to 10 minutes to soften.
• Mix 3/4 cup of chicken broth, melted butter, and tequila in a small metal bowl. Season with salt. Using a kitchen flavor injector, inject the mixture into the thighs, breasts, and legs of the turkey. If the mixture solidifies, place the bowl over a gas burner or in a warm oven until the butter melts.
• Place the turkey on a rack set in a large roasting pan. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey body. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Place the giblets in the pan.
• Transfer the chiles with their liquid to a blender. Add the apricot preserves, oregano, and garlic and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Transfer the chile puree to a medium saucepan. Rub about 1 cup of the chile puree all over the turkey (reserve the rest for the sauce at the end), working some of it between the breast and the skin. Season the turkey generously with salt and pepper.
• Add 1 cup broth to the roasting pan and roast for 45 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Continue roasting the turkey until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 2 hours longer, basting every 20 minutes with drippings. Cover the turkey loosely with foil if it begins to brown.
• Transfer the turkey to a platter, reserving the pan juices, and allow to rest while preparing the sauce.
• Strain the pan juices into a large, heavy saucepan and discard any solids. Spoon the fat from the top of the liquid and discard. Add the remaining chile puree to the saucepan and stir until well combined. Boil over high heat until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Garnish the turkey with dried apricots, dried chiles, and fresh cilantro. Serve with the chile puree alongside.

APRICOT TURKEY SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain., Spread two toast slices with jam. Layer with turkey, bacon, tomato, onion, lettuce and cheese. Spread remaining toast with mustard; place on top.

APRICOT-GLAZED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast. With a sharp knife, cut ten 2-in.-long slits in meat under the skin; insert a garlic clove slice and a ginger slice into each slit. , Place turkey in a large bowl; pour 1/4 cup wine under the skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Pour remaining wine over turkey. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight., In a small bowl, combine the preserves, mustard and soy sauce; set aside. Drain and discard marinade; place turkey on a rack in a foil-lined roasting pan., Bake at 325° for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 170°, basting with apricot mixture every 30 minutes (cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly). Cover and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

STUFFED TURKEY BREAST WITH APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place turkey skin-side up on a work surface. Using the palms of your hands and keeping skin intact, flatten turkey to an even thickness. Gently slide your fingers under skin to loosen it, creating a pocket.
• In a small bowl, combine parsley, sage, and zest, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer half the mixture to a separate bowl and add sausage, 4 tablespoons jam, and breadcrumbs. Stir to combine. Spread sausage mixture under skin.
• Flip turkey over and coat with remaining herb mixture. Fold short sides of breast into middle, flip, and place on a roasting rack set in a roasting pan lined with foil. Rub skin with oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and roast 1 hour and 30 minutes. Uncover, brush skin with remaining 2 tablespoons jam, and cook until skin is brown and an instant-read thermometer reads 165 degrees, 15 to 20 minutes more. Re-cover with foil if skin begins to get too dark. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with additional jam.

APRICOT-GLAZED TURKEY WITH ONION AND SHALLOT GRAVY

Steps:

• For Glaze: Combine all ingredients in small saucepan and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduce to 1 1/4 cups, about 15 minutes.
• For Herb Butter: Blend all ingredients in small bowl.
• Set aside.
• For Onion Mixture: Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and shallots and sauté until very soft and light brown, about 20 minutes.
• Cover separately and chill.
• For Turkey: Place rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400° F.
• Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
• Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper.
• Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan.
• Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin.
• Spread half of herb butter over breast under skin.
• If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity.
• Place remaining herb butter in small saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until melted.
• Brush butter over outside of turkey.
• Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey.
• Roast turkey 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325° F.
• Roast turkey 1 hour 30 minutes, basting occasionally with pan drippings.
• Tent turkey with heavy-duty foil; roast 45 minutes longer.
• Add onion mixture, 1 can broth, thyme and sage to pan.
• Roast 15 minutes.
• Bring glaze to simmer.
• Brush 1/2 cup glaze over turkey.
• Continue to roast turkey uncovered 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, brushing occasionally with glaze and adding more broth to pan if liquid evaporates, about 40 minutes longer for unstuffed turkey (about 1 hour 10 minutes longer for stuffed turkey).
• Place turkey on platter, tent with foil.
• Let stand 30 minutes.
• Reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• For Gravy: Pour contents of roasting pan into strainer set over large bowl.
• Spoon fat from pan juices in bowl.
• Transfer onion mixture in strainer to blender.
• Add 1 cup pan juices to blender and puree until smooth, adding more pan juices and chicken broth if necessary to thin sauce to desired consistency.
• Transfer sauce to heavy large saucepan and bring to boil.
• Cook until color deepens, skimming off any foam, about 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

SMOKED TURKEY, BRIE, AND APRICOT QUESADILLA

Steps:

• Set up grill for direct cooking over medium heat and oil grate when ready to cook.
• For Quesadilla:
• Lay out 4 tortillas; top each tortilla with brie, smoked turkey, apricot preserves, and Jack cheese. Top with remaining tortillas.
• For Salad:
• In a bowl, toss to combine herbs and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Place quesadillas on hot oiled grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until cheese has melted flipping with a spatula. Serve hot topped with mixed herb salad.
• Indoor:
• Prepare quesadillas as directed. In a skillet large enough to fit tortillas, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium heat. When oil is hot, carefully fry both sides of quesadillas for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown; turning with a large spatula. Garnish, as directed.

TURKEY AND APRICOT MEATLOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Soak bread crumbs in milk in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, cook celery, carrot, onion, and garlic with chile powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add to bread-crumb mixture with turkey, dried apricots, parsley, 1 tablespoon preserves, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, eggs, 1 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and mix with your hands until just combined. Form into a 9- by 5-inch oval loaf (mixture will spread slightly) in a 13- by 9-inch shallow baking dish.
• Stir together water, remaining 2 tablespoons preserves, and remaining 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce and brush over surface of meatloaf. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 165°F, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

CRANBERRY AND APRICOT STUFFING FOR TURKEY OR CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients well.
• Spoon into turkey yor chicken!

ROAST TURKEY WITH GRAND MARNIER APRICOT STUFFING

Steps:

• Make the stuffing - directions below.
• Preheat oven to 450°F
• Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry.
• Squeeze the juice of the oranges all over the turkey and in the neck and body cavities.
• Spoon the stuffing loosely into the cavities.
• Set aside any extra stuffing.
• Sew up the cavities or close with small trussing skewers.
• Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a roasting pan.
• Sprinkle all over with thyme and salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread the butter all over the turkey.
• Turn breast side up in the pan and cover the pan with aluminum foil.
• Place turkey in the oven and reduce heat to 425.
• Roast for 3 hours.
• Remove the foil and roast, basting occasionally until the juices run clear when the meaty part of the thigh is pierced with a sharp skewer, about 2 more hours.
• Bake the leftover stuffing in a baking dish at 325 for 30 minutes.
• Let turkey stand, covered with foil for 15 minutes before carving.
• STUFFING:.
• Place the apricots and 1 cup of Grand Marnier in a small saucepan.
• Heat to boiling.
• Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Simmer the turkey liver and heart in water to cover in a small saucepan for 5 minutes; set aside and cool.
• Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the celery and onion and saute for 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Cook the pork sausage in the same skillet, crumbling with a fork, until it is no longer pink.
• Remove and add to the celery mixture.
• Add the stuffing mix, apricots with liquid, and almonds.
• Finely dice the turkey liver and heart and add to the stuffing mixture, stir to combine.
• Heat the remaining 1/2 cup butter and the stock in a small saucepan just until the butter melts.
• Pour over the stuffing mixture and add the remaining 1/2 cup Grand Marnier.
• Stir well to moisten the stuffing.
• Season with thyme, salt and pepper to taste.
• Enough for a 21-24 pound turkey.

APRICOT GLAZED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• 1. Combine the preserves,vinegar,pepper and salt. Place turkey breast on a rack in a large shallow roasting pan.
• 2. Bake,uncovered, at 325 for 1-1 1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 170, basting every 30 minutes with apricot mixture. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly). Cover and let stand for 15 minutes before slicing.

ZESTY APRICOT TURKEY

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt spreadable fruit; stir in vinegar, honey, garlic, lemon zest and pepper sauce. Reserve 1/4 cup sauce for serving., Sprinkle turkey with salt and pepper; place on an oiled grill rack over medium heat. Grill, covered, until a thermometer reads 165°, 7-10 minutes per side; brush with remaining sauce during the last minute of cooking. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with reserved sauce.

APRICOT-KAHLUA GLAZED ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• I prefer to brine my turkey before roasting so just about any brine recipe will do. There are several very good ones posted on Recipezaar.
• After brining rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Rub turkey with softened butter and sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Place in roasting pan with a cup of water (or broth) in the bottom of the pan.
• In a bowl combine preserves and Kahlua mixing well.
• Spread half of the mixture over the turkey and place in 350 degree oven.
• About half way through the roasting spread the other half over bird. Basting often with juices.
• Continue roasting until bird is cooked through and golden brown. If the breast is getting too brown tent with foil.