Sicilian Turkey Recipes

SICILIAN TURKEY BURGER

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix turkey, tomato paste, currants, capers, basil, fennel seeds and salt. Form turkey mixture into four 3/4-inch-thick patties. Coat a grill rack or grill pan with cooking spray. Grill patties over medium-high heat until underside is well browned, about 7 minutes; flip and cook 5 minutes more. Top each patty with 2 tablespoons Parmesan; close lid or cover pan. Cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 2 minutes. Brush bottom of each roll with 1 teaspoon vinegar; top with 1 burger, tomato, if desired, and other half of roll.

GRAMMA CARUSO'S SICILIAN STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat oil in skillet, add onions and cook until slightly tender. Add all the ground meat and incorporate with fork. Add salt and pepper and garlic. Cook until half done, then add mushrooms, and continue cooking until meat is done. Do not drain.
• Put in large mixing bowl and add cooked rice. Toss, add bread crumbs, cheese, milk, and egg. Sorry guys, now ya gotta use your hands. Mix together, again add salt and pepper to taste. When fully mixed, add your chicken broth or water, more if you want a moist stuffing.
• There should be plenty to stuff your turkey, plus a full baking dish on the side. I put the baking dish in the last hour, top with 2 tablespoons butter and cover.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY WITH ITALIAN MEAT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place the ground beef into a skillet, and cook and stir the meat until browned and crumbly, breaking it up into chunks as it cooks, about 10 minutes. Drain grease. Place the ground beef into a large mixing bowl.
• Tear the bread into rough chunks, and place into a bowl; soak bread in water until moistened, and squeeze the water out of the bread. Crumble the wet bread into the bowl with the ground beef. Mix in the onion, celery, mushrooms, 4 cloves of garlic, flat-leaf parsley, Parmesan cheese, and egg until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels. Lightly stuff the turkey with the ground beef mixture, and place into a roasting pan with a lid. Rub the turkey with olive oil, squeeze lemons over the turkey, and sprinkle 2 more cloves of garlic, the garlic powder, and more salt and black pepper over the bird.
• Roast the turkey uncovered in the preheated oven until the skin is browned, about 45 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees C (175 degrees C), and cover the turkey with the lid. Continue roasting until the juices run clear and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads 180 degrees F (80 degrees C), about 5 more hours. Baste occasionally. If the bottom of the roasting pan looks dry, pour in water.

SICILIAN TURKEY

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large sauté pan which has a lid (preferably non-stick), add the onion and garlic and,stirring occasionally, sauté for 2 minutes, or until they are just beginning to soften but not brown.
• Add the mushrooms and, stirring occasionally, sauté for another 2-3 minutes until they soften.
• Add the flour, ginger and nutmeg, and stirring, cook for another minute.
• Gradually blend in the wine and milk.
• Bring to the boil, stirring, reduce the heat, add the turkey.
• Add salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
• Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a warm serving dish and sprinkle with toasted almonds.
• Serve with noodles or rice and your favourite salad or vegetable side dish.
• Chef's Note: Using a non-stick pan, you may find that you can reduce the butter slightly.