Christmas turkey is the main dish for many families, however, it is not a simple dish, but these tips will help.
The end of the year is the most awaited period for Christmas lovers. It’s time to get together with family and friends, give gifts to loved ones and, of course, enjoy Christmas dinner. And don’t worry, you’re allowed to go off your diet a little, because after all, there’s so much delicious food that it’s hard to resist. And it’s not a Christmas tradition without the famous Christmas turkey.
For many people, turkey cannot be missing from Christmas dinner, however, many people still have some difficulty preparing the dish. Because it is not such a simple meat to prepare, as it is a little drier and has little fat.
Therefore, to help you prepare the perfect Christmas turkey, we have put together some essential tips and a recipe for you to rock your dinner. Check it out below:
Tips for preparing Christmas turkey
As previously stated, preparing Christmas turkey is not a simple task. The secret to a good turkey is that the meat is tender, juicy and flavorful. And these tips will help you make the perfect Christmas turkey to surprise your whole family.
Softness
Turkey meat is a little drier than chicken, for example. So, to make it soft, it is very important to take care of the marinade. To marinate your turkey you can use red or white wine or even beer and the seasonings you like most, such as garlic, onion, cumin, among others. Therefore, to ensure that the meat absorbs the seasonings well and remains soft and juicy, the ideal is to leave the bird marinating overnight in the refrigerator. Furthermore, it is essential to cover the meat well with aluminum foil.
Sauce
The marinade is very important to ensure the tenderness of the meat, but in addition it can serve as a great sauce. So the tip is after you finish marinating the turkey, take the remaining broth to a pan on the heat and stir until it thickens. If you want, you can add a little wheat flour and more wine to thicken it. Adjust the salt and a sauce is ready to pour over the roast turkey.
Crispy meat
Tender meat on the inside and crispy on the outside, that’s the secret to a good Christmas turkey. So, to achieve this result, another tip is to spread a little butter under the turkey’s skin. Then cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 2 hours. The ideal is to baste the meat as a sauce from time to time while it roasts.
Filling
The turkey stuffing is also a differentiator of your recipe. When preparing the bird, remove all the giblets from inside. You can use them to make crumbs to fill the turkey. Or if that’s not the case, you can make a farofa with other ingredients if you prefer, the important thing is that it’s very wet.
Christmas turkey recipe
Now that you’ve learned the tips and tricks for preparing a Christmas turkey, it’s time to check out the step-by-step guide to preparing the dish. This recipe is delicious and makes 10 servings. It’s perfect for those who prefer to stick to the basics and not take risks.
Ingredients
- 1 large turkey weighing 6 kg
- 6 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1.5 liters of dry white wine (or beer)
- 1 cup olive oil
- 2 large onions
- 2 stalks of celery
- Herb bunch (2 bay leaves, 1/2 bunch of parsley and chives, basil and thyme)
- 1 carrot
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation mode
- First place the turkey in a large roasting pan the day before dinner.
- Then, make a kind of cream by blending an onion, garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper.
- Once done, grease the entire turkey, inside and out.
- Then place the herb bundle inside the turkey and pour over the wine or beer.
- Then cover with aluminum foil and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours.
- After this period, remove the turkey from the refrigerator a couple of hours before roasting and heat the oven to 180º C.
- In the meantime, cut the other onion, celery and carrot into cubes.
- Then, distribute it over the baking tray and cover it again with aluminum foil.
- Place in the oven to roast for 3 or 4 hours, basting it with the pan juices every half hour until the meat is well roasted and tender.
- At this point, remove the aluminum foil and return the turkey to the oven for another 20 minutes to brown.
- Finally, remove the baking tray from the oven and transfer the Christmas turkey to a large platter and decorate as you prefer.
Anyway, what did you think of this article? In fact, take the opportunity to also check out Christmas Supper – complete menu, drinks and table decoration tips.
Sources: Tudo Gostoso Paladar Recipes Tudo Gostoso
Images: Investify Cuisine Affective Coolícias
