Turkey Thighs With Pickled Cranberries And Onions For Two Recipes

TURKEY THIGHS WITH PICKLED CRANBERRIES AND ONIONS FOR TWO

Steps:

• Finely grate 1/2 teaspoon zest from the lemon and put it in a small bowl with the garlic and thyme. Halve the lemon and squeeze 1 tablespoon of the juice into the bowl. Mix everything into a paste.
• Pat the turkey thighs dry and season with salt and pepper. Smear turkey with the paste and place thighs on a plate. Refrigerate, uncovered, so the skin can dry out, for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
• Meanwhile, squeeze the remaining juice from the lemon halves into a medium bowl. Add the onion, cranberries, lime juice, sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt, tossing well. Let the mixture sit at room temperature, tossing occasionally, until the onions wilt and turn pink, 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate until serving. (These can be made up to 3 days in advance.)
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Put turkey thighs on a baking pan and dot with butter. Roast the thighs for 40 to 50 minutes, until the skin is crisp, the meat is cooked through and the juices run clear. (No need to rest here.)
• Serve turkey with a little of the cranberries and pickles on top, with herbs scattered over everything.

HERB-ROASTED TURKEY THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Combine room temperature butter with thyme, rosemary, parsley, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
• Pat turkey thighs dry with a paper towel; season with salt and pepper.
• Place potatoes, onions, and garlic on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Add turkey thighs and rub herb butter over the meat and under the skin. Top with lemon zest and juice.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Continue to bake, basting turkey with its own juices after 15 minutes, until no longer pink in the centers, about 30 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

PICKLED RED ONIONS AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup oil in large deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of onions to skillet and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer onions to large bowl. Repeat with remaining 1/4 cup oil and remaining onions. Return all onions to same skillet. Add vinegar and sugar, then cranberries, and simmer over medium heat until cranberries pop and juices thicken slightly, about 8 minutes. Stir in chipotle chiles. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cool. (Can be prepared 5 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• *Chipotle chiles canned in a spicy tomato sauce, sometimes called adobo, are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.

CRANBERRY GLAZED TURKEY

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
• 2. Place onions and garlic in a 10-inch cast iron pan. Rinse turkey thighs and place on top of onions and garlic.
• 3. In a blender, combine cranberries, maple syrup, orange, water, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, peppercorns, and olive oil. Blend until smooth. Pour over turkey, onions, and garlic.
• 4. Bake for 1 hour, turn the turkey once, and then back clearing the sauce from the top of the thigh. Brush thighs with olive oil and bake another 30-40 minutes. (Baking with the sauce on for the first hour helps lock in moisture. Brushing with olive oil makes crisps the turkey and makes it more visually appealing.)
• 5. Garnish with parsley. Serve.