If you or a family member are a hunter, you might have the opportunity to cook a wild turkey for a gathering or holiday. If you are a fan of dark meat, you may be interested to know that wild turkeys have more dark meat than their domestic counterparts. Moreover, wild turkey is healthier than domestic turkey, with more protein, less fat and less cholesterol. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Cleaning and Preparation
According to DivineDinnerParty.com, the easiest and quickest way to clean a wild turkey is to skip the feathers and go straight to skinning. Hang the bird by its feet, separating them 12 to 18 inches apart. Cut off the tail and wings. Grasp the skin underneath the tail area and pull. Cut off the neck and head. Reach inside the turkey and remove all the internal organs. If you want to keep the skin on, you will have to pluck it instead of skin it. This is a lot more tedious to do. In this case, heat the bird in water that is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover the bird in water to loosen the feathers then pluck them off.
Recipe Ideas
A tasty dinner choice for those who like spicy meals is Cajun wild turkey. To make this spicy dinner choice, you will need bacon, Cajun seasoning, butter, chopped onions, vegetable oil, Worcester sauce and wild turkey breasts. To cook this meal you will need to fry and sauté all of the ingredients in a frying pan. You can also use the wild turkey as an ingredient in another dish, such as soup. You can make a wild turkey and wild rice soup in a slow cooker or in a pot. Possible ingredients include: wild turkey breast (either chopped, sliced or whole), garlic cloves, green onions, celery, rice, peppers, shrimp and lime wedges.
Flavor
If you are thinking of cooking wild turkey for guests, it is best to make sure they will appreciate the flavor or be interested in trying it. The flavor of wild turkey is different from domestic turkey as it has a "gamey taste," which means it has a wild and spicy taste. Make sure to provide another meal selection as well just in case someone doesn't like it.
Baking or Frying
You can cook a wild turkey the same way you do a domestic turkey with the same cooking times according to weight. Simply bake it in the oven. You can also deep-fry the turkey whole. You can stuff the wild turkey just like you would a domestic one.
Holidays
As long as you talk to your guests ahead of time, wild turkeys are a great choice for many holidays as they provide a lot of meat and can feed many people. Cooking it is as simple as stuffing it then putting it in the oven. Easter, Passover, weddings, Mother's Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving are all good times to make a wild turkey feast.
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