Best Basic Turkey Recipes

BASIC ALL PURPOSE BRINE FOR MEATS, CHICKEN, AND TURKEY

Steps:

• Makes 1 quart- make up additional amounts of brine if needed until meat is submerged.
• Stir ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Continue stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Allow to cool.
• Place meat or poultry in a food safe plastic bag inside another container for support and leakage control (oven roasting bags are a fine choice- NOT garbage bags).
• Pour cooled brine into bag, and squeeze out as much air as possible and seal with a twistie tie.
• Refrigerate for 3-4 hours for 3 pounds meat (such as pork ribs), 5-6 hours for a nice roasting hen, or 12-24 hours for a turkey, 12 hours being for a small one and the longer time for those turkeys around 20+ pounds.
• Discard brine before using and pat meat dry.
• If using poultry, you may want to add citrus fruit such as oranges or lemons, additional fresh herbs, or cloves of garlic into the cavity.
• Prepare meat as desired- roast, bbq, etc.

BASIC TURKEY SOUP

Steps:

• Place all broth ingredients in a large stockpot; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 25 minutes. Strain broth; discard bones and vegetables. Cool; skim fat. Use immediately for turkey vegetable soup, or refrigerate and use within 24 hours. , For soup, combine broth, bouillon, pepper and vegetables in a large stockpot. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes. Add turkey; heat through.

BASIC TURKEY AND RICE SOUP

Steps:

• In a dutch oven, on medium heat, saute the garlic and onion in oil until tender.
• Add broth, rice, celery and carrot; Cover and simmer 15 minute.
• Add peas, nutmeg, sage and salt & pepper to taste; simmer on low 10 minutes.
• Add the turkey and heat through.

BASIC BRAISED TURKEY

Steps:

• Put the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the turkey and brown the leg (and, if you're using them, wing) portions on the skin side well, 10 minutes or more; turn and cook for another 2 minutes on the skinless side. Remove to a plate and brown the breasts in the same skillet, again mostly on the skin side; remove and keep them separate.
• Heat the oven to 300, and cook the bacon or pancetta (if using) in the remaining fat in the skillet until nearly crisp; remove with a slotted spoon. Cook the onions, mushrooms, carrots, celery and herbs, in batches if necessary, until beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer with the bacon or pancetta to a large roasting pan, then nestle the dark meat in there, leaving room for the breasts. Add stock or water to come about one-third to halfway up the sides of the thighs.
• Roast uncovered for about 90 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure liquid levels remain sufficiently high and stirring vegetables if they threaten to brown too much. When thigh meat is tender, place the breasts in the pan, and cook until tender, 30 to 45 minutes more, or until done. (They should register 155 on an instant-read thermometer.)
• Slice breast and thigh meat and serve on a platter with the vegetables garnished, if you like, with parsley.

BASIC ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Remove the turkey neck and giblets.
• Pat the turkey dry and put breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan; season inside and out with salt and pepper (skip the salt for a brined or kosher turkey). Fill the turkey cavity with chopped onions, carrots, apples and/or fresh herbs, then let stand 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Brush the turkey with melted butter, tent with foil and roast 2 hours for a 10-to-12-pound bird; add 15 minutes for each additional pound.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F; uncover the turkey, brush with more butter and roast 1 more hour, or until the thigh meat reaches 165 degrees F.

BASIC BRINE FOR CHICKEN, TURKEY, PORK

Steps:

• 1. bring mix to boil and allow to cool to room temp.
• 2. you can do your own other ingredients like, maple syrup, garlic, onion, allspice,ginger, or spices you like can be used.
• 3. TIME FOR FOOD TO BE LEFT IN BRINE: shrimp 30 minutes whole chicken 8-12 hours chicken parts 5 hours chicken breast up to 8 hours Whole turkey 24 hours pork chops 12-24 hours whole pork loins 2 to 4 days
• 4. after brining rinsh meat off. NO NEED TO SALT YOUR MEAT!!!!!!!!

BASIC TURKEY MEATBALLS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, about 7 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until aromatic, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and let the onion mixture cool to room temperature.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, egg, panko, Parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper, and onion mixture. Use your hands to mix until just combined.
• Shape the turkey mixture into 1½-inch balls (you should have about 14). Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
• Bake the meatballs until browned and cooked through, 20-25 minutes.
• Serve with pasta and sauce of your choice.
• Enjoy!

AMERICAN KITCHEN CLASSIC BASIC TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of stock to a boil. Remove from heat and keep warm.
• Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking, for 1 minute. The roux will become smooth and golden brown. Keep whisking!
• Within 2-3 minutes it will be the color of cafe au lait (golden brown) and smell slightly toasted. Gradually whisk in the warm stock and bring to a boil. Lower heat so the gravy is at a bare simmer.
• Add the bay leaves, mushrooms and Madeira and let simmer until grav is reduced by half. Remove the bay leaves and the mushrooms by a slotted spoon. Keep warm until turkey is finished.
• Transfer the turkey to a carving board and strain the drippings from the pan into a measuring cup. Skim the fat, add enough water to measure 1 cup.
• Place the roasting pan over two burners on medium high heat. Add the drippings mixture and deglaze the pan, stirring and scraping any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Strain into the gravy and simmer until slightly thickened, 10 minutes. Season to taste and serve.

BASIC TURKEY MEAT SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large stock pot over medium heat. Saute the onion and garlic until soft and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Add the turkey and cook until all the pinkness is gone, breaking it up with a spoon, 5-7 minutes.
• Crush basil and oregano between your palms. Add herbs and pepper flakes. Add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes.

BASIC TURKEY BRINE (WHOLE FOODS)

Steps:

• Combine salt, sugar, aromatics and 1/2 gallon (8 cups) of water in a large pot and place over medium-high heat. Stir until sugar and salt are dissolved. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Stir in remaining 1/2 gallon water (or water and ice) and cool completely. Pour brine into a container just large enough to hold turkey comfortably. (A 4- or 5-gallon vessel should be good for a 10- to 12-pound turkey.) Add turkey; add a little more water or ice to submerge it if necessary. Turn bird a few times and then leave breast-side down in the water; place a heavy plate over the poultry if it floats. Chill 5 to 6 hours. Remove bird from brine, discard brine and roast as directed.

BASIC BRINE FOR JUICY, TENDER CHICKEN OR TURKEY

Steps:

• Mix brine together well with a whisk.
• Place 1 whole chicken (thawed or frozen- you may also use chicken parts.) in brine for 2 hours up to over night. Cover and store in the refrigerator.
• Remove chicken from brine and rinse chicken well. You are now ready to make a tender juicy chicken dish of your choosing.
• NOTES: You can do this with turkey, as well. Also, you will notice that your leftovers, even after refrigerated overnight, are so tender and juicy whether eaten cold or reheated. The moisture retention really helps to make a chicken meal morph into a second meal when it holds its moisture. If doing a whole turkey, use the recipe servings changer to up the servings to 6-10. Put your turkey in an insulated cooler with enough water to cover and add in a 5 pound bag of ice. Brine overnight.

BASIC TURKEY GRAVY

Steps:

• Place roasting pan on stove across two burners. Bring pan liquids to a boil over high heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very brown, 5 to 15 minutes.
• Pour off (and discard) all but 1/4 cup fat from pan. Add wine; cook, stirring constantly, until syrupy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour, and cook, stirring, until browned, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add water, and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until gravy reaches desired consistency, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Discard large solids, and strain gravy through a fine-mesh sieve. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm or reheat just before serving.

GREAT BASIC TURKEY STOCK

Steps:

• 1. Bring turkey carcass, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, wine, bay leaf, and 4 1/2 quarts water to boil in 12-quart stockpot over medium-high heat, skimming fat or foam that rises to surface. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 2 hours, continuing to skim surface as necessary. Add parsley and thyme; continue to simmer until stock is rich and flavorful, about 2 hours longer, continuing to skim surface as necessary.
• 2. Strain stock through large-mesh strainer into large bowl or container; remove meat from strained solids, shred into bite-sized pieces, and set aside; discard solids in strainer. Cool stock slightly, about 20 minutes; spoon fat from surface. Use stock in one of the related recipes or cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate up to 2 days.

BASIC TURKEY

Steps:

• Remove the neck and giblets from your turkey; pat dry, then let stand at room temperature, 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Season the turkey inside and out with salt and pepper. Fill the cavity with chopped onions, carrots, apples and herbs, then tie the legs together with twine. Place breast-side up in a roasting pan and brush with melted butter. Tent with foil and roast 2 hours for a 10-to-12-pound turkey; add an extra 15 minutes per pound for larger birds. Uncover, brush with more butter and increase the heat to 425 degrees F; roast until the thigh meat registers 165 degrees F, about 1 more hour. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.

BASIC COOKED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• 1. Put the turkey in a large pot and add the water. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, uncovered, skimming the surface as needed. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until the meat is white in the center, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool the turkey, uncovered, in the broth. 2. When the turkey is cool enough to handle, proceed with your recipe. Or, transfer to a separate container, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. (Turkey can be frozen, but it's much better when freshly cooked.) Strain and store the turkey cooking broth, refrigerated or frozen, to use in soups or sauces.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.