spatchcocked turkey

2015-12-05 a.o.

This is how chickens are roasted in Mexican open-air restaurants. This method allows cooking a bird evenly a lot quicker than the more common trussed bird method. This way the bird is done in about an hour, instead of 3-4 hours.

I always try to find the smallest turkey in the store. There's only two of us for dinner and neither of us is very fond of turkey. We make a token contribution to tradition; the dog and the cats will get a lot of it and the rest becomes soup. I like turkey soup more than I like turkey. Canned turkey soup is delicious.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 6+ servings:

small turkey (this one 8.5 lbs.)
S&P
spices of choice
I used: 1 tbsp. olive oil, S&P, 2 packages of ‘Sazon Goya’
OR use a mixture of paprika and curry
or your favorite spices…

Pic1: 2016-11-29 turkey leg

Directions

2015-12-05

Pic2: before cooking
Pic3: after cooking
Pic4: turkey soup

2016-11-29

Pic5: another day, another turkey
Pic6: leftovers
Pic7: all done

Preheat oven to 350 ºF.
Spatchcock the bird:
- Cut away the backbone and wishbone.
  Alternatively, cut through the ribs on only one side of the spine. That will make the bird look lop-sided.
- Cut the legs loose and disarticulate them from the backside, but leave the skin in front intact.
- Turn the legs around and flatten them. ( Pic1+3)
- Turn the turkey breast side up, spread the carcass and push down on the breast until the ribcage cracks and flattens.
- This way, the entire bird is flat against the grill, and will be cooked quickly and evenly. (Pic2)
Mix the olive oil with your favorite spices and rub the entire bird with the mixture. (Pic1)
Place the turkey on a grill with a dripping pan underneath.
Bake uncovered for 60 minutes. (Pic3)
That’s all it takes to cook the turkey through and through.
Remove promptly as longer cooking times will dry out the meat.
Rest 10 minutes.
Serve and enjoy.

Serving suggestions:

Serve the turkey spatchcocked like it went in the oven
OR turn the legs around again to arrange the bird to look like it’s never been cut
OR separate and optionally debone and carve the various pieces.

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

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