Best Crispy Turkey Fingers Recipes

CRISPY-SKINNED HERB-ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Three days before cooking the turkey, rinse, clean and dry the turkey thoroughly.
• In a food processor, pulse the salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, bay leaves, thyme, orange zest and rosemary until still coarse but uniform, about 10 times. Rub the inside of the turkey with the salt mix. Then carefully slip your fingers under the breast skin and rub a liberal amount UNDER the skin. Flip the turkey on its side and sprinkle more of the salt mixture on the thigh, wing and leg. Repeat on other side.
• Place the bird in a large zipper-top bag or brining bag. (If neither is available, cover in plastic wrap.) Place the bird on a wire rack on a sheet pan breast-side up, and place in the fridge away from any raw food (on a lower shelf). Leave in the fridge for 3 days.
• On the night before cooking, remove the turkey from the fridge and take it out of the plastic. The skin should be dry and the salt should be dissolved. If any large patches of moisture are present, wipe with paper towels. Place back in the fridge, uncovered, for another 8 hours to dry out.
• On the day of, take the turkey out of the fridge 1 hour before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Fit a roasting pan with a wire v-rack.
• Put the turkey in the roasting pan and brush with the melted butter. Roast for 30 minutes. Turn the heat down to 325 degrees F and roast, basting occasionally, until the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about another 2 hours. Let the turkey rest for 30 to 45 minutes before carving.

DEEP-FRIED TURKEY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine first 6 ingredients. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey; rub salt mixture under skin, inside cavity and over outside of turkey. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Refrigerate 18-24 hours. Add oil to turkey deep fryer; preheat oil to 275°. Allow turkey to stand at room temperature while oil is preheating. Place turkey on deep fry rack, breast side down. Turn burner off; carefully lower turkey into oil. Turn burner on high and heat to 350°. Adjust heat to maintain 350°. Cook turkey until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, (about 35-45 minutes total time in fryer). Remove turkey from oil; tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes before carving.

AIR-FRYER COCONUT-CRUSTED TURKEY FINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat air fryer to 400°. In a shallow bowl, whisk egg whites and oil. In another shallow bowl, mix coconut, bread crumbs, sesame seeds and salt. Dip turkey in egg mixture, then in coconut mixture, patting to help coating adhere., In batches, place turkey in a single layer on greased tray in air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Turn; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until golden brown and turkey is no longer pink, 3-4 minutes longer. , Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, mix sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Serve turkey with sauce. If desired, top turkey strips with grated lime zest and serve with lime wedges.

CRISPY TURKEY BITES

Steps:

• For the dipping sauce: Puree the cranberry sauce, mayonnaise and orange zest in the bowl of a food processor until evenly combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the bites: Heat 3 inches of vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat to 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Put the stuffing, turkey, Parmesan, rosemary and 1 egg in a medium bowl and mix well until the mixture is evenly moistened. Place the flour, remaining 2 eggs and the panko in 3 separate shallow bowls. Beat the eggs to break apart until 1 cohesive color.
• Shape 1 tablespoon of the turkey mixture into a ball. Press a piece of smoked mozzarella into the middle of the ball and reshape the mixture around the cheese. Bread the ball by rolling it first in the flour to coat, then the egg and lastly the panko. Repeat with the remaining turkey mixture and breading ingredients. Fry 4 to 5 or the balls at a time until deep golden brown and hot all the way through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Serve hot alongside the dipping sauce.

CRISPY TURKEY FINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Rinse and pat dry the turkey breast and slice into 1/2 inch strips.
• Add sage, thyme, salt, and pepper to bread crumbs and mix well.
• Dip turkey fingers into egg white and cover with crumbs mix.
• Place fingers onto baking sheet and bake, turning once, about 10 minutes.