Ancho Turkey Chili Recipes

ANCHO-RUBBED TURKEY

Steps:

• Cook the ancho chiles, sesame seeds and cumin seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, stirring, until the seeds are toasted and the anchos are pliable, 3 minutes. Transfer the anchos to a bowl; transfer the seeds to a food processor. Cover the anchos with hot water and let soften, 5 to 10 minutes; drain, then remove the stems and seeds. Add the anchos to the food processor. Add the Fresno chile, garlic, scallions, parsley and cilantro leaves, olive oil, raisins and 1 tablespoon salt to the food processor. Pulse to make a paste.
• Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey; set aside for the gravy. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Work your fingers between the skin and the meat on the breast and the top of the legs. Rub the chile paste under the skin and on the outside. Stuff the parsley and cilantro stems into the cavity. Season inside and out with 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Put the turkey on a rack set in a large roasting pan; tuck the wings under the body. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Position an oven rack in the lowest position (remove the other racks); preheat to 350 degrees F. Uncover the turkey and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Roast until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 2 1/2 to 3 hours, tenting any parts that brown too quickly with foil. Meanwhile, start your gravy (or serve this turkey with defatted pan drippings).
• Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before carving. Serve with the gravy or pan drippings.

ANCHO-CHIPOTLE TURKEY CHILI

Steps:

• Place the anchos and stock in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, and then simmer over low heat to reconstitute.
• Heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in a large Dutch oven or large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and brown a few minutes, and then remove the bacon to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Add the ground turkey and brown and crumble the meat, and season with salt and pepper. Add the onions, garlic, chipotle in adobo, paprika, cumin, coriander, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. Stir and cook to soften, 10 minutes more. Add the tomato paste, and stir 1 minute. Deglaze the pan with the beer.
• Puree the anchos and stock.
• Add the ancho puree to the chili along with the reserved bacon. Simmer over low heat to thicken 20 to 30 minutes. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.
• To reheat: Reheat over a medium flame on the stovetop, stirring occasionally. Serve with the garnishes of your choice.

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.

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.

ANCHO CHILE TURKEY WITH MAPLE BOURBON GLAZE

Steps:

• In 1-quart saucepan, place chiles; cover with water. Heat to simmer over medium heat. Simmer 15 minutes or until chiles have softened. Remove chiles from water; reserve water.
• Place chiles in food processor. Add remaining Chili-Garlic Paste ingredients. Cover; process until a paste forms. Add 1 tablespoon reserved chile water to thin. Refrigerate until ready to use. (Can be made up to 2 days ahead.)
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat Glaze ingredients over medium heat to boiling. Remove from heat; set aside.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Place cooling rack or roasting rack in bottom of large roasting pan.
• Wash turkey inside and out; dry well. Season with salt and pepper, pressing it in to adhere. Slide hand under turkey breast skin to loosen; place 1/2 cup Chile-Garlic Paste under skin and rub all over top of turkey. Place orange wedges, half of the onion and the bay leaf inside cavity. Tie legs together with string. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone. Place turkey on rack in pan; arrange celery and remaining onion in pan around turkey. Pour 2 cups chicken broth over vegetables. Brush turkey with Glaze. Roast 30 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 325°F. Roast about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes, basting with pan broth and glaze every 30 minutes, until thermometer reads 165°F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted.
• Remove turkey from pan onto carving or cutting board; let rest 15 minutes before carving. Strain pan juices; reserve. Discard vegetables, orange and bay leaf.
• While turkey is resting, in 2-quart heavy saucepan, cook butter and flour over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until a blond roux forms. Add remaining 1/2 cup Chile-Garlic Paste, all strained pan juices and carton of chicken broth (4 cups); heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer until thickened. Serve gravy with carved turkey.