Apricot Stuffed Turkey Thighs Recipes

APRICOT STUFFED TURKEY THIGHS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat a shallow roasting pan with extra virgin olive oil. Stuffed Thighs: 1. In a medium microwave-safe bowl combine apricots and raisins; cover with hot water. Microwave for 1 ½ to 2 minutes, or until fruit is soft; drain well. 2. Add garlic, onion, celery, and bread cubes to same bowl; cover with vented plastic wrap. Microwave for 1 ½ to 2 minutes, or until onion and celery are soft; set aside. 3. Flatten turkey thighs to ¾ - inch thick by placing them between 2 pieces of wax paper and pounding them with blunt side of a meat mallet. 4. Divide stuffing evenly, and place a serving in center of each thigh. Encase stuffing by folding opposite sides of each thigh over stuffing: secure with string or metal skewers. 5. Arrange thighs, seam-side-down, on the coated roasting pan. 6. Roast at 325°F for 90 to 105 minutes, or until thermometer reaches 180. Creamy Mustard Sauce: 1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cornstarch, broth, mustard, honey, and lemon juice. Cook and stir until sauce thickens. 2. Remove from heat and fold in mayonnaise. 3.. To serve, remove string or skewers from thighs. Slice into rolls and top with Creamy Mustard Sauce.

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.

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.

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.

ROASTED TURKEY THIGHS AND STUFFING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a large baking dish (big enough to hold 4 thighs) with nonstick cooking spray.
• 2. Place prepared stuffing in baking dish.
• 3. Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil over skin of each thigh.
• 4. Arrange turkey thighs on top of stuffing, skin side up.
• 5. Sprinkle thighs with salt, pepper and herbs.
• 6. Bake for 1 hour, 20 minutes or until meat thermometer reaches 160F. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice meat from bones and serve with stuffing.