Southwest Turkey Rice Salad Recipes

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.

SOUTHWEST RICE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the rice, beans, corn and onions.
• Toss to mix.
• In a food processor, blend remaining ingredients, except the cilantro and tomatoes, until the peppers are finely minced.
• Pour the dressing over the rice mixture and mix well.
• Garnish with the cilantro and chopped tomatoes.
• This salad can be made 1-2 days in advance and served either cold or room temperature.

SOUTHWESTERN RICE

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute pepper and onion 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute., Stir in rice, spices and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients; cook, covered, until heated through.

SOUTHWEST TURKEY, RICE AND BEAN STIR FRY

Steps:

• Rice -- Cook the rice according to the package directions (You can use any rice you want), I often use a boil in bag for convenience. I have also made this with leftover Chinese rice too.
• Turkey -- As the rice cooks, brown the turkey in a medium size pan. I love non stick for this dish. Add the olive oil to the non stick pan on medium to medium high heat and brown the turkey, breaking it up as it cooks. Cook until it is no longer pink. Remove the turkey to a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any extra oil. Set this to the side. Keep any drippings in the pan to saute the vegetables.
• Vegetables -- Keep the heat on medium high heat and add the red pepper, green pepper, onion, and garlic and saute until the peppers become soft. It should take around 3-4 minutes.
• Beans and Seasoning -- Add the taco seasoning and water (start with 1/4 cup water, you can always add more) to the vegetables and stir well to combine. Add the beans and corn and mix well.
• Turkey -- Add the turkey back in along with the scallions, cilantro and the cooked rice.
• Finish -- Reduce the heat to medium low. Remove the pan to the side and add the sour cream and stir inches Return to the heat just to warm up. It will only take a minute.
• Serve -- Garnish with grated cheese, avocado, black olives, tomatoes or anything you want. A few nacho chips are also great served with this.