Tag: main course
Jamaican Jerk Turkey Wings
Jamaican Jerk Turkey Wings
While turkey isn’t particularly popular in Jamaica, I’ve been to quite a few authentic Jamaican restaurants across the country; all of them having jerk turkey wings. Wings seem to be the least eaten part of the turkey, which is a shame. There’s a lot of meat on the wings and they’re very inexpensive. Dry rubbing the wings with jerk seasoning is the perfect way to enjoy eating them. My recipe has the wings baked in the oven low and slow for about 2 hours. You can alternatively grill the jerk wings over charcoal indirectly for about 30 minutes. In my opinion, it’s easiest to separate the drummettes from the wing flats; ensuring even cooking.
Ingredients
- 5 large whole turkey wings tips removed; drums and flats separated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Jerk Seasoning
- 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
- 3 tsp onion powder
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp allspice
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp thyme
- 2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp chicken bouillon
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
Instructions
- Rub the turkey wings with olive oil. Mix together all of the seasonings and rub the turkey wings. Marinate for at least 4 hours; preferably overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 2 hours, flipping half way through.
Whole Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk
Whole Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk
This is one of my favorite ways to cook a whole chicken. The chicken is seasoned with creole seasoning and seared in a dutch oven, then braised in the oven with coconut milk, lemongrass, and garlic; creating a rich gravy. This gravy is so damn good, I’d drink it by the cup full if I could. You can add fingerling potatoes the last 30 minutes of cooking, or spoon the coconut milk gravy over steamed rice.
Equipment
- cast iron Dutch oven
Ingredients
- 4 lb whole chicken
- creole seasoning to taste
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 1 tbsp thyme
- 2 stalks lemongrass finely chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 2 lbs fingerling potatoes
Instructions
- Season the chicken with the creole seasoning and white pepper. Fill the inner cavity with the half of the garlic, ginger, and 1 stalk of lemongrass. Heat up the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the chicken to the pot.
- Brown on both sides for 12 minutes in total. Remove the chicken from the pot.
- Sauté the onions, remaining garlic and lemongrass, thyme, smoked paprika, curry powder, and cayenne pepper for 2 minutes.
- Pour in the coconut milk and water; scraping the bottom of the pot.
- Place the chicken back into the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and place in a 350 degree oven for up to 90 minutes; basting with the sauce every 20 minutes.
- The last 30 minutes of cooking, add in the fingerling potatoes. Let cool before serving.
Southern Stewed Turkey Necks
Southern Stewed Turkey Necks
Turkey necks are really underrated. They contain a ton of meat and are a staple of southern cooking; particularly soul food. They are looked at as “poor man’s oxtails”, but there’s nothing poor about the flavor. The turkey necks get braised in Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and beer until the meat falls off the bone. The best part is that you should be able to find the turkey necks for $2/lb at most. They are typically served over rice along with the gravy that contains butter beans.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 lbs turkey necks
- 1 tbsp creole seasoning
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 3 ribs celery diced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup beer lager or pilsner
- 1 can butter beans
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- salt to taste
- steamed white rice for serving
Instructions
- Season the turkey necks in creole seasoning. Brown the turkey necks in the oil for 10 minutes in a pot over medium high heat. Remove from the pot.
- Add in the onions. Brown for 5 minutes.
- Add in the bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Brown for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the Worcestershire sauce, beer and chicken stock. Scrape the bottom of the pot.
- Add the turkey necks back in. Season with thyme and oregano. Add in the bay leaves. Cover and simmer over low heat for 2 hours.
- Stir in the butter beans.
- Make a slurry with the cornstarch and water. Stir it into the pot until ther gravy thickens. Season with salt to taste.
Serve over steamed rice.
