Apricot Stuffed Turkey Thighs Recipes

APRICOT-GLAZED TURKEY WITH ONION AND SHALLOT GRAVY

Steps:

• For Glaze: Combine all ingredients in small saucepan and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduce to 1 1/4 cups, about 15 minutes.
• For Herb Butter: Blend all ingredients in small bowl.
• Set aside.
• For Onion Mixture: Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.
• Add onions and shallots and sauté until very soft and light brown, about 20 minutes.
• Cover separately and chill.
• For Turkey: Place rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400° F.
• Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
• Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper.
• Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan.
• Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin.
• Spread half of herb butter over breast under skin.
• If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity.
• Place remaining herb butter in small saucepan.
• Stir over low heat until melted.
• Brush butter over outside of turkey.
• Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey.
• Roast turkey 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 325° F.
• Roast turkey 1 hour 30 minutes, basting occasionally with pan drippings.
• Tent turkey with heavy-duty foil; roast 45 minutes longer.
• Add onion mixture, 1 can broth, thyme and sage to pan.
• Roast 15 minutes.
• Bring glaze to simmer.
• Brush 1/2 cup glaze over turkey.
• Continue to roast turkey uncovered until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180° F.
• or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, brushing occasionally with glaze and adding more broth to pan if liquid evaporates, about 40 minutes longer for unstuffed turkey (about 1 hour 10 minutes longer for stuffed turkey).
• Place turkey on platter, tent with foil.
• Let stand 30 minutes.
• Reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• For Gravy: Pour contents of roasting pan into strainer set over large bowl.
• Spoon fat from pan juices in bowl.
• Transfer onion mixture in strainer to blender.
• Add 1 cup pan juices to blender and puree until smooth, adding more pan juices and chicken broth if necessary to thin sauce to desired consistency.
• Transfer sauce to heavy large saucepan and bring to boil.
• Cook until color deepens, skimming off any foam, about 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

ROASTED TURKEY THIGHS AND STUFFING

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a large baking dish (big enough to hold 4 thighs) with nonstick cooking spray.
• 2. Place prepared stuffing in baking dish.
• 3. Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil over skin of each thigh.
• 4. Arrange turkey thighs on top of stuffing, skin side up.
• 5. Sprinkle thighs with salt, pepper and herbs.
• 6. Bake for 1 hour, 20 minutes or until meat thermometer reaches 160F. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice meat from bones and serve with stuffing.

APRICOT-GLAZED TURKEY WITH ROASTED ONION AND SHALLOT GRAVY

Steps:

• For Glaze:
• Combine all ingredients in heavy small saucepan and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 15 minutes.
• For Herb Butter:
• Blend all ingredients in small bowl. Set aside.
• For Onion Mixture:
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and shallots and sauté until very soft and light brown, about 20 minutes. (Glaze, herb butter and onion mixture can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill. Bring herb butter to room temperature before continuing.)
• For Turkey:
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 400° F. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Season turkey cavity with salt and pepper. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen skin. Spread half of herb butter over breast under skin. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Place remaining herb butter in small saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted. Brush butter over outside of turkey. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Roast turkey 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325° F. Roast turkey 1 hour 30 minutes, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Tent turkey with heavy-duty foil; roast 45 minutes longer. Add onion mixture, 1 can broth, thyme and sage to pan. Roast 15 minutes. Bring glaze to simmer. Brush 1/2 cup glaze over turkey. Continue to roast turkey uncovered until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180° F. or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, brushing occasionally with glaze and adding more broth to pan if liquid evaporates, about 40 minutes longer for unstuffed turkey (about 1 hour 10 minutes longer for stuffed turkey). Place turkey on platter, tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes. Reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• For Gravy:
• Pour contents of roasting pan into strainer set over large bowl. Spoon fat from pan juices in bowl. Transfer onion mixture in strainer to blender. Add 1 cup pan juices to blender and puree until smooth, adding more pan juices and chicken broth if necessary to thin sauce to desired consistency. Transfer sauce to heavy large saucepan and bring to boil. Cook until color deepens, skimming off any foam, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.