Jerk Turkey Legs Recipes

GRILLED JERK TURKEY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the first 11 ingredients. Pour 1/2 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add turkey. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade. , Drain and discard marinade from the turkey. Lightly oil the grill rack. Grill turkey, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 7-10 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 170°, basting occasionally with reserved marinade. Cut into slices.

BARBECUED TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• The day before, make a dry brine: Put 2 wire racks on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Mix together the sugar, chili powder, mustard powder, garlic powder, cayenne and 1/2 cup salt. Pat the turkey drumsticks dry. Put 2 drumsticks in a large shallow bowl and sprinkle generously with the dry brine, rubbing it into every nook and cranny. Transfer to one of the wire racks. Working in batches, sprinkle and rub the remaining drumsticks with the dry brine and transfer to the wire racks. Sprinkle the drumsticks on the racks with any remaining dry brine. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 8 hours and preferably up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the drumsticks, rotating the baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through cooking, until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer measures at least 200 degrees F, about 2 hours. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer the drumsticks to large re-sealable plastic bags. (The turkey can be made ahead up to this point and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.)
• Preheat a gas grill to medium-low or prepare a charcoal for medium-low indirect heat: bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results).
• Brush the grill grates with oil. Put the drumsticks on the grill (or indirect side if using charcoal) and cook, turning and basting with the barbecue sauce every 5 minutes, until the drumsticks are deep amber on the outside and heated through, about 15 minutes.
• Let cool for 5 minutes, then wrap the exposed bone-end of each drumstick with foil and serve while warm.

ROASTED TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse the turkey legs and pat dry.
• Stand the turkey legs upright (as if the turkey were standing). Press a knife downward into the deep tissue, creating 2 or 3 long pockets. Press a piece of celery into each opening. Pull back the skin on the legs, rub with butter, and season with a little salt. Put the skin back into place, rub with more butter, and season lightly with salt. Lay the legs in a roasting pan.
• Roast uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the legs are golden brown and the internal temperature is 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) when taken with a meat thermometer. Add more water if needed while roasting, and baste occasionally with the juices or butter.

JERK TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• Combine the oil, thyme, brown sugar, allspice, lime juice, garlic, chile peppers, ginger, scallions, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a food processor and pulse until smooth.
• Coat the turkey legs in the jerk marinade and refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Spread the turkey legs on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until the skin is golden brown all over and the turkey is cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the meat, avoiding bone, should register at least 165 degrees F), 45 to 50 minutes.
• Serve the turkey legs topped with the cilantro, with lime wedges on the side.