Turkey Recipes
Clay Pot Turkey
Clay pot cooking lends a flavorful steamed/roasted flavor that is quite unique.
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
- 2 1/2 tablespoons Italian olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 1 teaspoon chili con carne seasoning
- 2 tablespoons caraway seeds, partially crushed
- 3/4 cup dry sherry
- 1 (6-7 pound) whole turkey breast bony back section of bone split
- 6 to 8 large shallots, peeled, each cut in half
- 4 large cloves garlic, peeled, each cut in half
- 2 large onions
- 2 large yams
- 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds white turnip
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons finely minced dill
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare marinade in a large flat-bottom bowl or Dutch oven: Combine vinegar, orange juice concentrate, 1 tablespoon oil, seasonings, caraway and 1/4 cup sherry. Add turkey, turning several times to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Soak clay pot (including cover) in tepid water for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Fit work bowl of food processor with steel blade and, with machine running, drop shallot and garlic clove halves through feed tube. Scrape into measuring cup. (You will need about 2/3 cup firmly packed mixture.) Gently separate skin from flesh of breast; push half the mixture under skin on each side of breast, smoothing out and patting down skin to distribute evenly. Cut away any surplus skin.
- Fit food processor with slicing blade. Using gentle pressure, thinly slice onions. Slice peeled yams and turnip separately. Heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add onion and sauté over medium heat until onion begins to wilt (about 2 minutes). Add yams and turnip. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Continue sautéing until volume begins to diminish (about 8 minutes).
- Spoon half the vegetable mixture over ridged bottom section of clay pot. Drain turkey, pouring marinade into a saucepan. Place turkey over vegetable mixture, bony side down. Spoon the remaining vegetable mixture over breast.
- To marinade in saucepan add remaining 1/2 cup sherry, cayenne, salt and lemon juice. Heat until bubbly. Gently pour over turkey and vegetable mixture. Sprinkle dill over all. Cover pot securely.
- Position oven rack in bottom third of oven. Set thermostat at 400 degrees F. Place pot on rack in cold oven and bake for 2 hours.
- Remove from oven. Open cover just a crack and let steam escape for 10 minutes.
- Place turkey on large warmed serving platter. Tent with foil to keep warm.
- Pour remaining contents of clay pot into colander with large skimming cup underneath. Drain well. Arrange vegetables around turkey. Re-cover while sauce is reheated and thickened, if desired.
- Pour defatted sauce into saucepan (there will be about 2 cups). Over high heat, reduce to 1 1/4 cups. If adding thickener, dribble in cornstarch mixture and stir until lightly thickened. Spoon some gravy over turkey and vegetables; serve remainder in gravy boat.
Notes
Variation: Add 3/4 cup fresh rinsed and picked-over cranberries when reheating marinade.
The clay pot, which looks like a covered casserole, is available at many stores that sell kitchen utensils.
Attribution
Posted by luvtocook at Recipe Goldmine May 24, 2001.