Chinese Turkey Recipes

CHINESE TURKEY SALAD

Steps:

• For the turkey: In a 4 or 5-quart saucepan, combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, orange juice, garlic and ginger. Add the turkey, breast-side down, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan and cook until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165 degrees F, 45 to 50 minutes. Let the turkey cool for 20 minutes. Using 2 forks, shred the meat into 2-inch pieces.
• For the wontons: In a heavy, medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer, a cube of bread should brown in about 4 minutes.) Add the wontons and fry until golden, 30 to 45 seconds. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• For the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the grapeseed oil, soy sauce, vinegar, maple syrup, orange juice, sesame seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until smooth. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
• For the salad: In a large salad bowl, toss together the almonds, romaine, iceberg lettuce, Napa cabbage, scallions and bell pepper. Add the dressing and the shredded turkey and toss until coated. Garnish with the fried wontons and serve.

STIR FRY TURKEY (DAD'S VERSION)

Steps:

• Whisk soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl until smooth; stir turkey into cornstarch mixture and set aside for 15 minutes to marinate.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat and pour vegetable oil into the hot skillet, coating the bottom. Stir broccoli and carrots into the hot oil to combine; pour chicken broth into the vegetables and cover skillet. Cook until carrots start to become tender, about 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium. Stir turkey and sauce into vegetables; cook and stir until heated through and the sauce has thickened, 1 minute. Stir mushrooms into turkey and vegetables until combined.

CANTONESE-STYLE TURKEY

Steps:

• Remove turkey from refrigerator and pat dry with paper towels. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and allow turkey to come to room temperature while you prepare the sauce.
• Swirl 3 tablespoons oil into a wok or large Dutch oven and set over medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Add garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Add scallions, leeks and celery and cook, stirring often, until vegetables soften and cook down, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add soybean sauce, orange peel, sugar, rice wine or sherry, white pepper, soy sauce and oyster sauce to the vegetable mixture, along with 2 cups water. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and allow mixture to simmer and thicken, 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool 20 minutes.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Spoon 1 cup of the sauce over turkey and spoon 2 tablespoons into its cavity. Tuck the tips of the wings under the bird and truss its legs together with kitchen string. Pour remaining sauce and 2 cups water into roasting pan and transfer to oven. Roast turkey, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven to 325 degrees. Baste turkey with pan juices, and tent it with foil. Continue roasting another 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices, until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees. If pan starts to look dry, add hot water or turkey or chicken stock, if you have any, 1 cup at a time.
• Transfer turkey to a cutting board or platter and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving. Pour pan drippings into a small pot, adding enough warm water or stock to equal 1 cup, and keep warm on the stove.
• Increase oven temperature to 450 degrees. Grease a large sheet pan with 1 tablespoon oil, and arrange halved potatoes on the pan, cut side down. Season with salt and black pepper, and slide potatoes into the oven. Cook, undisturbed, until potatoes are tender and cut sides are nicely browned and crisped, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove pan from the oven, drizzle reserved drippings all over potatoes, toss and return to the oven to finish cooking, 5 minutes longer. Serve potatoes with turkey.

CHINESE TURKEY SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, vinegar, and ginger until honey is dissolved. Whisking constantly, add oils in a slow stream until completely incorporated. Taste and adjust flavor, as desired.
• Add turkey, toss to thoroughly coat, and let sit 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and toss again to combine. Serve.