ALT-1 Non Traditional Ways to Serve Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner
Thaw the turkey, stuff the turkey, cook the turkey. This age old Thanksgiving tradition can get a little boring year after year. Why not add a new twist to Thanksgiving this year and try a non-traditional way to serve your turkey? Any of the following suggestions are sure to be hit at your holiday table.
Deep Fried Turkey
Deep frying is fast becoming a great alternative to oven roasting your turkey. Contrary to what you might think, deep fried turkey is moist, tender and not at all greasy. This cooking method must be performed outside, under a watchful eye. A large (50 quart) pot, propane tank, oil and a burner will be required. Oils with a high smoke point work best, such as canola, peanut and corn. Smaller birds fry up better, so try to keep your turkey under 15 pounds. You can find step by step instructions and a video at www.videojug.com/film/how-to-deep-fry-turkey.
Barbecued Turkey
You haven't tasted turkey until you've eaten it hot off the grill. Your first step is to place your turkey directly on the grill and sear both sides until the skin is a dark golden brown. This will help to seal in all the natural juices. Once this is done, place your turkey, breast down, in a large roasting pan with two cups of water and your desired seasonings. Baste the turkey with the water, spice mixture and cover with tinfoil. Place back on the grill and cook over medium heat for 3-4 hours. Let your turkey sit for 15-30 minutes before carving.
Brining Your Turkey
This method helps keep your turkey moist by preventing the oven from drying the meat out. The brine consists of high salt content liquid. You can find different recipes for brine at www.about.com. Immerse your turkey in the brine and place the entire container in the fridge. If you're short on refrigerator space, a cooler will work. Turkey should be left to brine for one hour per pound, but no longer than twenty four hours total. It is extremely important to rinse the turkey after removing it from the brine, to remove excess salt from the surface of the skin. Be sure to rinse inside and out. If you don't you'll regret it. Now just cook your turkey as normal.
Grilled Turkey Breast With Dijon Sauce
This great if your family is like mine, nobody eats the wings, legs or dark meat. All you need to buy is a turkey breast and cut it into individual size portions. Make the dijon sauce using 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp dijon mustard, 2 tbsp honey, 1 clove minced garlic, 1/4 tsp dried thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Generously brush each turkey portion with the dijon sauce. Grill over medium heat for about four minutes on each side, or until no longer pink inside.
Turkey Stir Fry
This is a quick and easy way to get all your food groups in one skillet. Combine 1/3 cup water, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tsp ground ginger and 1 clove minced garlic. Dissolve 2 tbsp cornstarch into mixture and set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet and add your desired vegetables (sliced carrots, peppers, onion, broccoli, mushrooms, water chestnuts etc.). Stir fry for 3-4 minutes, then add 2 cups of cooked, chopped turkey. Stir fry another 2-3 minutes then add the sauce you put aside earlier. Stir constantly until sauce thickens and vegetables are tender crisp. Serve over a bed of rice.
While Thanksgiving is a traditional holiday, the way you serve your turkey doesn't have to be. Try something new, break with tradition and maybe create a new one.
