Turkey times 5

2020-09-28+29

Believe it or not, I still had a small turkey on the bottom of my freezer from last year. Even the smallest turkeys are bigger than the biggest chickens. They are always good for several days of kitcheneering fun.

I steam-roasted the turkey whole.
I used the breast meat and a variety of vegetables to make burritos
I used the turkey carcass and vegetables to make soup
I roasted remaining turkey parts for the meal.
I deep-fried turkey burritos.

And I still have enough soup, burritos and other turkey leftovers for several more meals.

a. steam-roasted turkey

2020-09-28

Steam-roasting is steaming and roasting at the same time. It doesn't roast as dark as regular roasting.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for too many servings:

1 turkey
I always choose the smallest I can find
S&P, seasoning of your choice

Pic1: steam-roasted turkey

Directions

2020-09-28

Pic2: quick-thawing the turkey
Pic3: my turkey roaster with removable pan and grill
Pic4: steam-roasted turkey

Set the turkey on a grill in the turkey roaster and fill up the space underneath with water.
In the kitchen oven, place a tray of water on a rack just underneath the rack with the turkey.
By setting the temperature high over 400 ºF., the water will start boiling and steaming, but the temperature is high enough to also roast the turkey simultaneously.
For a small turkey like this, it takes about 60-90 minutes.

When the turkey was cooked enough, I parted it, used the breast meat for the burritos and cooked the rest a bit more to be able to break up the carcass without too much of a struggle. (see below.)

b. turkey burritos

2020-09-28

I've been wanting to make more burritos for the freezer, and I finally gathered all the ingredients to make it happen .

Pic5: green chile
Pic6: bean sprouts
Pic7: carrots and potatoes

Cut the vegetables small.
Was the bean sprouts. Submerge in boiling water for 1-3 minutes.

Pic8: turkey breast meat
Pic9: nacho jalapeno peppers
Pic10: pineapple habanero sauce

Chop turkey meat and nacho peppers small.
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix thoroughly without smashing the bean sprouts.

Pic11-13: stuff, roll, stack

Add 1-2 tbs. filling to a large flour tortilla.
Fold the sides in over the filling and roll up tightly towards you without ripping the tortilla.
Stack on a baking tray.
Place the entire baking tray in the freezer and leave 24-36 hrs. before vacuum-sealing by twos or threes.
Don't forget to mark the bags with the content, especially if you have different batches. Otherwise it might become a surprise party every time you serve one of these. ☺

c. zucchini turkey soup

2020-09-28+29

A large bird has a large carcass, ideal for cooking soup.

The wings and legs were kept separate. I had a better use in mind than boiling those to death.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 8-10 quarts = 20+ servings:

turkey carcass, only minimally cleaned
vegetables of your choice
I used potatoes and zucchinis
S&P, seasoning of your choice

Pic14: zucchini turkey soup

Directions

2020-09-28

Pic15+16: simmer
Pic16: transfer to smaller pot
Pic17: the morning after

After parting the chicken, I let the turkey parts simmer a while longer, to make it possible to break up the carcass without having a wrestling match with it.
Everything went into a smaller pot to be refrigerated overnight.
The next morning, I separated the carcass from most of the remaining meat on it.

2020-09-29

Pic18-20: making turkey soup

Combine carcass, water, potatoes and zucchinis into a large stock pot.
Add S&P, seasoning to taste.
Bring to a boil and simmer 1-2 hrs.
If you like the potatoes and zucchinis crisper, add them 10-15 minutes before the soup is done.
Remove the carcass and peel off any remaining meat.
Discard the bones, toss the meat back in the soup
Serve and enjoy.

d. turkey burrito & roasted turkey meals

2020-09-29

The turkey limbs went in the oven for a nice crisp finish, and of course we had to try out one of those newly-made burritos.

Directions

2020-09-29

Pic21-23: turkey burrito meal

Be sure to thaw frozen burritos slowly, preferably in the refrigerator.
Too much microwaving on high will make the tortillas as hard as old leather.
I served this with soup vegetables, including bean sprouts that I dunked in the soup for 3 minutes.
Enjoy.

roasted turkey legs

Pic24-26: roasted turkey meal

I roasted a turkey leg and wing and the neck for the turkey meal.
I served this with soup vegetables, including bean sprouts that I dunked in the soup for 3 minutes.
Enjoy.

e. turkey chimichanga

And a few days later, I tried deep-frying one of those burritos = chimichanga.

2020-10-05

Pic27-29: deep-frying

Deep-fry one frozen burrito at a time.
Do not thaw beforehand. The tortilla will get mushy and won't stay closed in the deep-fryer.
Fry until golden-brown.
Depending on the thickness, it may take 6-10 minutes to heat up the content sufficiently.

Pic30-32: served

I served it and enjoyed it; hope you will too.

e. turkey chimichanga

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org