Southwestern Stuffed Turkey Breast 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.

STUFFED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Use a slicing knife and your fingers to remove skin from breast, reserving skin. Turn the breast over (so the side that had the skin is facing down) and lay it flat on the cutting board. Holding the blade of the knife parallel to the board, about halfway down, slice into the thickest portion of the breast. Cut along the length of the breast, but not all the way through. Unfold so the turkey opens like a book. Remove the tough piece of cartilage. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until the turkey is a uniform thickness (about 1/2 inch). Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread stuffing evenly (about 3/4 inch thick) over turkey, leaving a 1-inch border. Starting with one short end, roll into a log, completely enclosing the stuffing, and wrap the reserved skin around the breast, over the seam. Roll in a piece of cheesecloth and secure both ends with kitchen twine. Tie twine around the roast in four evenly spaced intervals, and rub butter evenly all over cheesecloth.
• Roast on a rimmed baking sheet until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle registers 155 degrees, 70 to 80 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes (the internal temperature should rise to 165 degrees).
• Remove cheesecloth and twine, then place turkey on a cutting board and slice crosswise about 3/4-inch thick. Serve garnished with oregano.

SOUTHWESTERN TURKEY IN BRINE ( FUNKY BIRD)

Steps:

• In a large non reactive container (we usually use a white trash bag--heavy duty or doubled sacked), combine lemon juice, orange juice, kosher salt, light brown sugar, yellow onions, oranges, jalapenos, cilantro, garlic, chili powder, ground cumin and oregano with 1 gallon water.
• Stir, squeeze, or shake up to dissolve brine the sugar & salt.
• Put the turkey under cold running water and rinse.
• Add the turkey to the brine, cover and refrigerate, turning occasionally, for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Essence:.
• Mix ingredients well and store in an airtight container or jar. Yields about 2/3 cup.
• Preheat oven to 375°FF.
• Remove the turkey from the brine and put it breast side up in a large heavy roasting pan and pat dry with paper towels.
• Rub the turkey with vegetable oil.
• Sprinkle all sides with 1- 3 tablespoons of Essence.
• Roast until deep golden brown and an instant thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F., about 1 hour and 45 minutes for breast, and a whole turkey takes about 20 minutes per pound.
• Transfer to a platter and let stand for about 15 minutes before carving.

SOUTHWESTERN TURKEY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Starting at the back opening of the turkey, gently separate skin from turkey breast, using fingers. Place sage leaves under the skin.
• Make a stuffing, if desired, but do not cook. Stuff turkey just before roasting, not ahead of time. Fill neck cavity lightly with stuffing. Fasten neck skin to back of turkey with skewer. Fold wings across back of turkey so tips are touching. Fill body cavity lightly with stuffing. (Do not pack stuffing because it will expand during roasting.) Tuck drumsticks under band of skin at tail, or tie together with heavy string, then tie to tail.
• Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Heat butter, chili powder, cumin and chilies until butter is melted. Brush turkey with 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in the thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone. (Do not add water or cover turkey.)
• Roast uncovered 3 hours to 3 hours 45 minutes, brushing occasionally with remaining butter mixture. After roasting about 2 hours, place a tent of aluminum foil loosely over turkey when it begins to turn golden, and cut band of skin or remove tie holding drumsticks to allow inside of thighs to cook through.
• Turkey is done when thermometer reads 165°F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted. Thermometer placed in center of stuffing will read 165°F. If a meat thermometer is not used, begin testing for doneness after about 2 hours 30 minutes. When turkey is done, place on warm platter and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Let stand about 15 minutes for easiest carving. Garnish with whole chilies and additional sage leaves if desired.
• While turkey is standing, skim fat from drippings. Pour just the drippings into 1-quart saucepan; heat to boiling. Serve with turkey. Cover and refrigerate any remaining turkey and stuffing separately.