Alfred Portales Christmas Turkey Sandwich Recipes

ALFRED PORTALE'S CHRISTMAS TURKEY SANDWICH

Steps:

• Cut bread into 8 thin slices and toast.
• Spread a generous layer of stuffing over one side of four slices; top with turkey, red onion, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise.
• Top with remaining slices of bread.
• If desired, serve with leftover cranbery relish, chestnuts, pickles and potato chips.

TURKEY SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the turkey breast skin-side up on a roasting tray. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme - you don't need any oil as this is a dry roast method. Roast the turkey until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast, 1 hour. Remove the turkey from the tray and set aside on a plate to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before carving the meat into slices.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, heavy cream, poppy seeds, and a pinch of salt. Whisk to blend. Taste for seasoning.
• In a medium skillet, lay out the bacon strips and add the water. Bring the water to a simmer and allow all of the water to reduce and cook until the bacon strips get crispy. It will make your bacon crispier! Reserve some of the bacon grease in a small bowl. Meanwhile, toss together the dressing and the iceberg lettuce and refrigerate.
• Slice the rolls lengthwise and open up. Place the rolls (or bread slices) in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the center of the oven. Toast on both sides until light brown.
• Layer some of the iceberg on 4 bases of the rolls. Top with some layers of turkey. Drizzle with a touch of the bacon grease. Layer a few slices of avocado and apple on each. Top with 2 bacon slices each and another layer of the iceberg. Top with the top halves of the rolls. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve immediately.

ALFRED PORTALE'S TUNA TARTARE WITH HERB SALAD, CUCUMBER, LIME, SCALLION AND GINGER

Steps:

• Place ring mold in the center of a chilled 12-inch dinner plate. Make a circle of overlapping cucumbers around each mold.
• Put tuna in a mixing bowl and add 8 tablespoons of vinaigrette, scallions, and Shiso. Mix to combine. Season with salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste. Spoon tartare into mold, pressing lightly. Stand 3 croutons into tuna and top with a little herb salad. Carefully lift ring mold up and off the plate. Serve with extra croutons on the side.
• Put all ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Taste to check acidity, and balance with more oil or lemon juice, as needed. Set aside until ready to use.
• Wash and dry all of the greens and herbs. Pick the leaves off the chervil, parsley and cilantro and put in a large bowl. Cut chives into 1-inch batons and add to bowl. Pick through frisee and add to bowl with micro greens. Toss gently. Refrigerate until ready to serve, and then toss with 3 tablespoons vinaigrette.
• Yield: 2 cups herb salad
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cut baguette on severe bias to create 1/4-inch elliptical slices. Put bread slices on a baking sheet and lightly toast. Remove from heat and then drizzle with olive oil. Set aside until ready to assemble.
• Yield: 18 croutons

ALFRED PORTALE'S SUMMER SQUAB SALAD WITH COUSCOUS AND CURRY

Steps:

• Place the couscous in a bowl. Bring the chicken broth to a boil with the butter. Pour over the couscous and allow to stand five minutes.
• In a small dish combine the salt, pepper, mustard, ginger, curry powder and garlic. Stir in the lemon juice. Beat in all but about a teaspoon of the oil.
• Fluff the softened couscous with a fork and stir in three tablespoons of the curry dressing along with the scallions.
• Bone the breasts of the squabs by cutting along the breastbone and cutting away the meat in a single piece down to the rib cage. Cut off the legs.
• Wipe a heavy skillet with the remaining oil. Cook the squab breasts and legs over medium-high heat, turning once, until browned but still rare to medium-rare, about eight minutes for the breasts and three to five minutes for the legs.
• Divide the couscous among four salad plates. Top with raisins. Place some of the greens alongside the couscous on each plate and drizzle a tablespoon or so of dressing over them. Slice the squab breasts on the diagonal and arrange the pieces of breast and leg on each of the plates. Moisten with remaining dressing and serve.

SPECIAL TURKEY SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, spinach, basil, cheese and garlic until blended; set aside. In a small skillet, cook onion in wine until tender; set aside. , Place four slices of toast on a broiler pan; top with turkey. Place remaining toast on broiler pan; spread with cream cheese mixture. , Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Layer the onion, tomato and lettuce over turkey. Place cream cheese toasts over sandwiches.

ALFRED PORTALE'S RED SNAPPER WITH POTATOES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°. In a 10" ovensafe skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add potatoes; cover and cook until tender, 10 minutes. Add onion, garlic, thyme and rosemary; season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cover and cook until vegetables soften, 5 minutes. In skillet, form potato mixture into four mounds. Season fish with salt and black pepper; place a fillet on each mound and top with lemon slices. Increase heat to high; when pan sizzles, add wine and cook until liquid reduces by half, 2 minutes. Add broth; bring sauce to a boil. Cover and bake, 8 minutes. Remove fish and vegetables and transfer to 4 plates; reserve broth in pan. Return pan to stove top over high heat and reduce broth, 1 to 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, olives, parsley and juice to taste; cook until sauce is thick, 10 minutes. Drizzle over fillets.