Southwestern Turkey
By: Atkins Nutritionals
For Thanksgiving this year, why not try a unique main dish instead of the traditional turkey? Southwestern turkey has a unique taste with fresh cilantro, cumin, chipotle pepper rub and a spicy gravy. Give this turkey recipe a try!
Notes
If you're looking for a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving bird, check out The Top 41 Best Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes for more great ideas!
Preparation Time20 min
Cooking Time3 hr 40 min
Ingredients
- Turkey:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, sofened
- 3 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
- 1 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 8 garlic cloves
- 2 chipotles en adobo, minced
- 1 (12 to 14 pound) turkey, giblets removed
- Spicy Gravy:
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 chipotle en adobo, minced
- 2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- salt to taste
Instructions
For Southwestern Turkey:
- Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Combine butter, cilantro, cumin, salt, zest, juice, garlic, and chipotles in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until well blended and smooth.
- Insert fingers between skin and flesh of turkey to loosen skin; rub butter mixture under the skin of the turkey. Place turkey, breast-side up, on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Cook, basting with pan drippings, 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F; continue cooking, basting every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of turkey breast registers 165 degrees F, 3¼ to 3½ hours. Let turkey stand 10 minutes before slicing.
For Spicy Gravy:
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until they begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add chipotle and cream; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Skim off and discard fat from pan drippings. Add remaining pan drippings (you should have about ¾ cup) to the cream mixture; cook an additional minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lime juice; season with salt to taste. Serve along with turkey.