Masala Turkey Recipes

TURKEY TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Make the marinade: In a medium bowl, stir together garam masala, coriander, cumin, paprika, turmeric, kosher salt, garlic, ginger and yogurt. Fold in the turkey. Cover and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• Make the masala: On the stove top, heat a Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons ghee or neutral oil, then add onion, cardamom, bay leaf, paprika, pepper flakes (if using), garam masala and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are brown and tender, 10 to 15 minutes, adjusting temperature as needed so the onion doesn't burn.
• Make space among onions in center of pot, and add 1 tablespoon ghee or neutral oil. When ghee has melted or oil begins to shimmer, add ginger, garlic and serrano peppers, and sizzle for about 10 seconds. Combine that mixture with the spiced onions. Stir in tomato paste. Add tomatoes and their juices, crushing them with your hands as you add them. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until the liquid is almost gone, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add cream and chopped cilantro to the pot. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, about 40 minutes. Discard bay leaf.
• In the meantime, line a baking sheet with foil, turn on oven broiler, and arrange an oven rack about 6 inches from broiling unit. Lay the marinated turkey on the foil in a single layer. Stir any remaining marinade into the sauce. Broil until turkey begins to blacken in spots, 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Use a hand-held blender (or blender) to purée the sauce, then add turkey and return the sauce to a simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until just warmed through. Just before serving, stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
• To serve, garnish with cilantro sprigs. Serve hot, with steamed basmati rice. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

TURKEY MARSALA

Steps:

• Mix flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cut each tenderloin crosswise in half; pound each piece with a meat mallet to 3/4-in. thickness. Toss with flour mixture; shake off excess. , In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add turkey; cook until a thermometer reads 165°, 6-8 minutes per side. Remove from pan; keep warm., In same skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat; saute mushrooms until tender, 3-4 minutes. Stir in broth and wine. Bring to a boil, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan; cook until liquid is reduced by half, 10-12 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and the remaining salt and pepper. Serve with turkey.

TIKKA MASALA TURKEY BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil. Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch; season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 12 minutes, adding the peas in the last 1 minute of cooking. Drain the potatoes and peas; reserve the saucepan.
• Meanwhile, toss the red onion, vinegar, 2 tablespoons water and a big pinch of salt in a bowl; set aside. Mix the turkey with 1/4 cup tikka masala sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons cilantro and 1/4 teaspoon cumin. Shape into four 1/4-inch-thick patties. Put on the prepared baking sheet; spread with the remaining 1/4 cup tikka masala sauce. Broil until cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Melt the butter in the reserved saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin, then add the potatoes and peas. Cook, stirring, until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/3 cup cilantro; season with salt.
• Drain the red onion. Serve the burgers on the buns with the mayonnaise and red onion. Serve with the potatoes and peas.

TANDOORI TURKEY

Steps:

• For tandoori masala:
• Toast spices in a skillet over medium heat, swirling often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool. Working in batches, finely grind mixture in a spice mill. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 month ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• For garam masala:
• Toast spices in a skillet over medium heat, swirling often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool. Working in batches, finely grind mixture in a spice mill. Sift through a medium-mesh strainer into a small bowl; stir to combine. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 month ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• For turkey:
• Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Rub inside and out with salt; transfer to roasting bag. Stuff turkey with cardamom pods and cumin seeds, then onion, celery, and garlic.
• For marinade:
• Purée all ingredients in a blender. Pour marinade into roasting bag. Smear all over turkey. Tie bag and arrange turkey, breast side down, in a large heavy roasting pan. Refrigerate overnight.
• Let turkey stand in bag at room temperature for 1 hour. Turn breast side up. Create steam holes in bag if required by manufacturer's instructions.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Roast turkey for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F. Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh (puncturing bag with thermometer) registers 160°, about 1 1/2 hours longer. Cut top of bag open, being careful of steam and juices, and pull back over turkey. Roast turkey until breast is deeply browned but not burned and a thermometer inserted into thigh registers 165°F, 15-30 minutes longer.
• Transfer to a platter. Let rest for at least 20 minutes before carving.
• Meanwhile, strain juices into a large saucepan. Spoon fat from surface. Simmer over medium heat until sauce is reduced to 3 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes.
• Carve turkey. Serve with accompanying gravy.

TURKEY TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a casserole dish or shallow pan over a medium heat, and fry the onions for 10-12 mins until golden. Stir in the garlic, ginger, chilli and all the spices, and cook for 2 mins more until the mixture resembles a paste. Stir in the tomato purée, passata or chopped tomatoes and mango chutney, and bring to a simmer. Cook for a further 10 mins.
• Stir in most of the cream and the yogurt, if using, and return the mixture to a simmer. Add the turkey and continue to simmer until the turkey is piping hot. Remove from the heat, drizzle over the remaining cream and stir through briefly. Scatter over some coriander and flaked almonds, and serve with the rice and naan breads on the side.

TURKEY TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Melt butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until caramelized, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and ginger; cook 1 minute or until fragrant.
• Stir in tomato paste; cook 2 minutes. Add curry powder, cumin, coriander and paprika; cook 1 minute more or until spices are fragrant. Stir in drained tomatoes, chicken broth and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• With a hand immersion blender, blend sauce until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in heavy cream and yogurt. Add turkey; cook 3 minutes or until mixture is hot, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, heat rice according to package directions. Top tikka masala with cilantro and serve with rice.

WILD TURKEY WITH LAVENDER MASALA

Steps:

• Combine garam masala and lavender in a small bowl; stir to combine. Set aside.
• Rinse back and front cavities of turkey under cold running water; pat dry. Season turkey inside and out with salt and pepper. Rub with bacon fat, and sprinkle with spice mixture; rub to coat evenly. Place in a large metal bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 24 hours or at least overnight.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Tuck wings under turkey; tie legs together with kitchen twine. Place in a large, heavy roasting pan fitted with a rack. Roast 30 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375 degrees.
• Continue roasting, basting turkey with pan juices every 30 minutes (add 1/2 cup water if pan becomes dry). Tent with foil after 1 hour. Roast until juices run clear when thigh is pierced, 2 1/2 to 3 hours total. Insert an instant-read thermometer in thickest part of thigh, avoiding the bone. Temperature should reach 180 degrees. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.

TURKEY TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Toast the coriander, black peppercorns, cumin, brown mustard, cloves and cinnamon stick in a dry cast-iron skillet until fragrant, about 3 minutes (see Cook's Note). Grind the toasted spices along with the cardamom pods, nutmeg and red pepper flakes in a spice grinder until fine, about 1 minute.
• Transfer roughly two-thirds of the spice mixture (about 2 tablespoons plus 2 1/2 teaspoons), the yogurt, 1 teaspoon of the salt and the turkey thighs to a 1-gallon zip-top bag. Seal the bag, squish to fully coat the thighs and refrigerate for 1 to 3 hours.
• Place a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the canola oil and when shimmering, add the onion and the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to brown around the edges, about 8 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low and stir in the ginger, garlic and chiles. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is evenly brown, 7 to 8 minutes more. Add the remaining spice mixture and the tomatoes and cook until reduced and darkened in color, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and lime juice. Kill the heat and cover to keep warm.
• Park a grill pan over medium heat for 5 minutes, then lightly brush with oil. Remove the turkey from the bag, keeping as much yogurt on the meat as possible, and grill until the yogurt is well-charred, approximately 5 minutes per side. Remove the thighs from the heat and rest for 5 minutes before cutting into bite-sized pieces.
• Add the turkey pieces to the sauce and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 20 minutes, taking care to not let the sauce boil as the yogurt may curdle.
• To serve, spoon over basmati or jasmine rice and garnish with fresh mint and cilantro.