Riesling Gravy Recipes

RIESLING ROAST TURKEY WITH FIG AND ROOT VEGETABLE DRESSING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Debone the entire turkey and roast just the bones in the oven for 45 minutes, turning bones occasionally. Break the turkey down, separating the parts. Reserve all of the offal cuts separately.
• Remove the turkey bones from the oven and add to a large stockpot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer at least 1 hour to make turkey stock.
• Melt 3 pounds of the butter and combine with Riesling. Soak the cheesecloth in the wine and butter mixture. Set aside.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
• Dice the carrots, onions, celery, and celery root so that they are all about the same size. Toss vegetables with garlic, figs, and olive oil. Spread out on sheet pans and roast in the oven until vegetables are tender. Set aside.
• Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes. Spread out on sheet pans and toast in the oven until golden.
• Combine the roasted vegetables mixture with the toasted bread in a large bowl. Melt 1 pound butter and toss with vegetable and bread mixture. Transfer to a baking dish and add enough chicken stock to cover the mixture. Bake for 45 minutes. Reserve stuffing and keep warm.
• Melt 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add only the offal cuts of the turkey and saute until lightly browned and cooked through. When lightly browned, add the Madeira and deglaze the pan. Set aside to cool, chop into pieces, and reserve.
• Heavily season the remaining turkey meat with salt and white pepper. Wrap the seasoned meat in the soaked cheesecloth. Roast at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes. Remove the cheesecloth from the skin and continue roasting for an additional 15 minutes. Keep checking the temperature of the meat every 15 minutes until it registers 165 degrees F. Reserve the drippings. Hold the roasted turkey at room temperature for 12 minutes before slicing.
• Toast the flour in a large saucepan until rust in color. Add turkey drippings, remaining 3/4 pound butter, bay leaves, and reserved pancetta fat from the gnocchi recipe (above) and stir constantly until smooth. Cook until thickened. When the gravy has reached a sufficient viscosity, strain and add the cooked, chopped offal cuts to the gravy. Refresh everything with chopped fresh herbs, to taste. Slice turkey and serve with stuffing on side and gravy over top.

ALSATIAN-BRINED TURKEY WITH RIESLING GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring 4 cups of the water to a boil. Add 1 1/4 cups of kosher salt, the sugar, mustard seeds, dried onion, caraway seeds, peppercorns, juniper berries and bay leaves. Stir until salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Remove pot from heat.
• Line a container large enough to hold the turkey with two sturdy plastic bags. Put the turkey into the bags, neck first. Pour the warm brine over the turkey. Add 1 1/2 cups of the Riesling and 4 quarts of the cold water. Seal the bags; press out as much air as possible. Refrigerate for 2 days.
• On Thanksgiving morning, preheat the oven to 350°. Drain the turkey, scraping off the spices, then transfer it to a large roasting pan and let it return to room temperature. If your family or guests are salt sensitive be sure to wash the turkey very well under cold water and dry completely with paper towels. Discard brine.
• Add the quartered onion, garlic and 1 cup of water to the pan and roast the turkey for 1 1/2 hours. Add the remaining 1 cup of water to the pan and roast for about 1 1/2 hours longer, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into an inner thigh registers 165°. Cover the breast loosely with foil during the last hour of roasting to prevent it from browning too quickly.
• Transfer the turkey to a cutting board. Strain the pan juices into a measuring cup and skim off the fat; reserve 3 tablespoons of the fat. In a bowl, mix the reserved fat with the flour until a paste forms.
• Place roasting pan over 2 burners and heat until sizzling. Add 1 cup of Riesling and bring to a simmer over moderately high heat, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom and sides of the pan. Strain the wine into a medium saucepan and boil until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Add the stock and the reserved pan juices and bring to a boil. Whisk in the flour paste and simmer over moderate heat until the gravy thickens slightly and no floury taste remains, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Carve and serve with the Riesling gravy on the side.

CHICKEN IN A RIESLING SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat butter and olive oil in a wide based pot or saute pan and add the onion and cook over a moderate heat until it is a pale golden brown and then add the garlic and the mushrooms.
• Cook for another few minutes and season well with the salt and pepper.
• Place the flour in a plastic bag and season with salt and pepper and then add the chicken pieces and toss the chicken around to coat well and then add the whole lot to the pan.
• Cook for a few minutes and add the wine and the herbs and bring to the boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
• Allow to sit for 5 minutes and serve - over noodles or pasta was suggested.