Category: Entrees

Servings: 10 to 14 servings
Preheat: 350
Prep Time: 2 hours
Source: New York Times

Some recipes for mayo-roasted turkey promise extra-juicy results with minimal effort. This one does no such thing. The mayonnaise won’t help the turkey stay juicy: Only salting and resting (a light curing process known colloquially as dry-brining) and carefully monitoring its internal temperature as it roasts will. The mayonnaise will, however, produce a turkey with glistening, burnished, golden-brown skin evenly flavored with herbs, no basting required. The mayo’s viscosity helps it stay in place as it roasts, while the extra protein from egg aids in browning. This recipe will make a little more mayonnaise than you’ll need. Use the excess for leftovers sandwiches, or toss it with roughly chopped vegetables (carrots, broccoli, brussels sprouts, zucchini or squash) before roasting at high heat for 10 to 15 minutes.

Ingredients: 

For the Turkey

1 (10- to 14-pound) whole turkey, backbone removed, neck, giblets and backbone reserved for the gravy (see Tips)
½ cup kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or 6 tablespoons coarse salt (such as Morton’s)
2 celery ribs, diced
1large onion, diced
1 large carrot, diced

For the Herb Mayo (see Tips)
1½ cups mayonnaise (such as Hellmann’s or Best Foods)
1 cup loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, stems reserved
½ cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves, stems reserved
2 tablespoons fresh thyme or oregano leaves, stems reserved
2 scallions, roughly chopped
1 lemon, zested
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Gravy

2 teaspoons neutral oil, such as vegetable, light olive oil or canola
2 celery ribs, roughly chopped
1 large onion, diced
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
Reserved backbone and any neck or giblets from the turkey, roughly chopped
1½ quarts homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken or turkey stock
Reserved herb stems from the Herb Mayo
2 bay leaves
¼ cup all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions: 

Step 1
Dry-brine the turkey: Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Carefully loosen the skin from the breast of the turkey — going in through the neck may be easier here — until you can slide your hand between the skin and the meat. Season each turkey breast with 1 teaspoon salt, spreading it as evenly as possible with your hands. Sprinkle the remaining salt evenly over every surface of the turkey. Place the turkey skin-side up on a rimmed sheet pan, and refrigerate, uncovered, for 12 to 24 hours.

Step 2
While the turkey dry-brines, make the herb mayo: In a tall container just wide enough to fit the head of a hand blender (or using a regular blender or food processor), combine the mayonnaise with the parsley, sage, thyme or oregano, scallions, lemon zest and 1 tablespoon water. Season generously with salt and pepper. Use the hand blender to blend until it all forms a relatively smooth, pale-green sauce. Transfer to a sealed container until ready to use. You should have about 1¾ cups of herb mayo. (You can make the mayo in advance up to a week and keep it in the fridge.)

Step 3
Roast the turkey: Take the turkey out of the refrigerator to let it rest as the oven heats. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat the oven to 425 degrees for a 10- to 12-pound bird or 400 degrees for a 12- to 14-pound bird. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil. Scatter the diced celery, onion and carrot over it. Place a cooling rack directly on top of the vegetables, then place the turkey on top, skin-side down.

Step 4
With your hands, slather ½ cup of the herb-mayo mixture over the exposed side of the turkey, making sure to lightly coat every surface. Flip the turkey skin-side up. Spread the legs out to the sides (they should remain skin-side up) and tuck the wing tips behind the breast. With your hands, spread a couple of tablespoons of the herb mayo between the skin and meat of the breast. Generously slather the rest of the turkey with the herb mayo, getting it into every crack and crevice. (Reserve any remaining herb mayo for your day-after-Thanksgiving sandwiches.)

Step 5
Transfer the turkey to the oven and roast until the breast meat registers 150 degrees at its coolest point (typically the deepest point of the breast next to the breastbone) and the thigh and leg meat register at least 165 degrees at their coolest point (typically the center of the joint between the drumstick and thigh or thigh and hip), 80 to 90 minutes, rotating halfway through. (You may want to start checking the turkey’s internal temperature after about 1 hour.) If any of the skin starts to darken too much during roasting, tent darker areas loosely with aluminum foil. Remove from oven, transfer to a cutting board, and let it rest.

Step 6
While the turkey cooks, make the gravy: Heat the oil in a large saucepan over high until lightly smoking. Add the celery, onion, carrot and turkey parts, and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Add the stock, herb stems and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and cook gently until reduced by about half, or until the turkey is done.

Step 7
After removing the turkey from the oven, strain the stock mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl. Tilt and strain any collected liquids from the turkey-roasting tray into the same bowl. Discard the vegetables at the bottom of the tray. Skim off and discard most of the excess fat from the liquid.

Step 8
Heat the flour and butter in a medium saucepan over medium, stirring constantly with a whisk until the mixture is golden brown. Ladle the stock mixture into the saucepan, about a ½ cup at a time, whisking until smooth after each addition. Once all the stock is added, bring the gravy to a simmer until your desired consistency, stir in the soy sauce and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 9
Carve and serve the turkey with the gravy.

Servings: 6
Preheat: 
Prep Time: 1 hour
Source: New York Times

This mellow, velvety soup filled with barley and vegetables is a perfect place for your leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Adapted from Cristiana N. de Carvalho of Massachusetts, it’s savory, herby and very warming on a cold winter evening. If you want to make your own stock from the turkey bones, the soup will be even richer. But store-bought stock works just as well and makes this straightforward recipe quick to put together. Brown rice makes an excellent barley substitute, though you may have to add a few minutes to the cooking time. —Melissa Clark

Ingredients: 

3 tablespoons unsalted butter or extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into ½-inch coins
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced or finely grated
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves
2 teaspoons fine salt, plus more as needed
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
4 thyme sprigs
4 parsley sprigs, plus 1 cup coarsely chopped parsley leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish
1 bay leaf
2 quarts turkey or chicken stock, preferably homemade
¾ cup pearled barley
2 to 3 cups shredded or chopped leftover turkey
1 lemon, halved

Directions: 

Step 1
In a large soup pot over medium-high, melt butter, or heat the oil until shimmering. Add carrot, celery and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned at the edges, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and sage, and sauté for a minute, until fragrant. Stir in salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne.

Step 2
Tie the thyme and parsley sprigs and the bay leaf together with a piece of kitchen twine to make a bouquet garni and add to the pot (or just throw the herbs directly into the pot; you’ll just have to fish them out later).

Step 3
Add stock and barley and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until barley is almost done, about 30 minutes. Add turkey and cook until barley is tender, about 10 to 15 minutes longer.

Step 4
Remove from heat and remove the bouquet garni or herbs. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the soup, and stir in chopped parsley. Taste and add more salt, pepper and lemon juice, if you like. Cut the remaining lemon half into wedges. Garnish soup with more parsley, and serve with lemon wedges.

Servings: 4 to 6 Servings
Preheat: 425
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Source: New York Times

Chicken thighs are roasted with classic fall ingredients for a quick, flavorful sheet-pan supper. The toasted fennel seeds subtly amplify the anise flavor of the roasted fennel and play nicely with the apples and onions. Look for an apple on the tart side as it will naturally sweeten as it cooks in the oven. If you want to use bone-in chicken breasts you can, just make sure to cut the cooking time by a few minutes so they don’t dry out. Serve with a bright, bitter green salad flecked with blue cheese and toasted walnuts.

Ingredients: 

2 teaspoons fennel seeds
2½ to 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, patted dry
3 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced (about 1½ cups)
1 medium fennel bulb, tough outer leaves removed, cored and thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
1 tart apple, such as Mutsu (Crispin) or Granny Smith, halved, cored and cut into 8 wedges
4 sprigs rosemary
Flaky salt, for serving

Directions: 

Step 1
Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a small skillet, toast the fennel seeds over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Pound into a coarse powder with a mortar and pestle or, alternatively, roughly chop. In a large bowl, toss together the chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the fennel seeds and season well with salt and pepper.

Step 2
Place the onion, fennel and apple slices on the sheet pan. Toss with the remaining olive oil and season well with salt. Spread in an even layer. Add the chicken skin side up on top of the vegetables and lay the rosemary (distributing evenly) on top of the chicken. Roast for 40 to 45 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the onions, fennel and apples are softened and have begun to caramelize at the edge of the pan.

Step 3
Turn the oven to broil and move the oven rack to sit right below it. Remove and discard the rosemary sprigs and broil the chicken for 1 to 2 minutes until the skin of the chicken is crispy and golden. Season with flaky salt.

Servings: 4
Preheat: 400
Prep Time: 1 hour
Source: https://glebekitchen.com/chicken-with-tomatillo-sauce/

Chicken with tomatillo sauce delivers big Mexican flavours and is easy enough to make any night of the week.

Ingredients: 

Chicken recipe
6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
1 1/2 lbs tomatillos
2-3 jalapeños – seeded and minced (optional)
1 large onion – finely diced
3 cloves garlic – crushed
2 tsp creole seasoning – plus more to season the chicken
up to 3/4 cup chicken stock
olive oil
salt – to taste
cilantro – to garnish

Creole Seasoning
5 tablespoons paprika
3 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon white pepper
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions: 

Pre-heat your oven to 400F.

Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the tomatillos for 10 minutes. Drain and chop.

Heat a skillet large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer over medium heat. Coat the chicken thighs with olive oil and season liberally with creole seasoning. Film the skillet with olive oil. Place the chicken, skin side down and cook until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and remove all but 2 Tbsp of fat.

Saute the onions and jalapeños until soft, around 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute. Mix in the tomatillos and 2 tsp creole seasoning and cook for 2-3 minutes. Now add 1/4 cup chicken stock and nestle the chicken in the sauce. It’s critical to keep the skin above the liquid or it will get soggy.

Roast the chicken until you get an internal temperature of 175F, about 20-25 minutes. Keep an eye on the dish. If the sauce gets too dry (like it looks like it might burn) add another 1/4 cup chicken stock.

When the chicken is done remove the skillet from the oven. CAREFUL!! POT HANDLE WILL BE VERY HOT!!

Remove the chicken and set aside. If the sauce is too runny place the skillet over medium heat and reduce until you get a saucy but not runny consistency. If it’s too dry, add a bit more chicken stock. Adjust for salt. Garnish with a bit of cilantro. Serve the chicken over the sauce.

Servings: 4
Preheat: 
Prep Time: 1 hour
Source: https://www.recipetineats.com/nasi-goreng-indonesian-fried-rice/#wprm-recipe-container-25386

The literal translation of Nasi Goreng is “fried rice” in Indonesian and Malaysian – and that’s exactly what it is! It’s mainly rice with just a little bit of meat and just onion for the vegetables. The thing that distinguishes it from other Fried Rice dishes is the sauce which is made with kecap manis, a sweet soy sauce that stains the rice dark brown and caramelizes the rice when it cooks. Typically it’s served with a sunny side up egg (love how the yolk runs into the rice!) and a side of fresh cucumber and tomato (no dressing) to make a meal of it.

While shrimp paste is optional, the COLD cooked rice called for is not! It’s simply not possible to make any fried rice with hot, freshly cooked rice – it gets kind of stickier when stir fried in sauce. On the other hand, day old cold rice is drier and harder, so the rice can be stir fried in the sauce in a way that makes it become caramelised which gives Nasi Goreng the signature colour and flavour. Speedy option: Cook the rice, spread out on tray then FREEZE for 1 – 2 hours, or refrigerate for 3 – 4 hours. It’s not just about cooling the rice, it’s also about making the surface of the rice dry out.

Nasi Goreng is also a terrific Asian side dish option, something a little different that packs a bit of a flavour punch! Try it on the side of (see source for links to following):
Indonesian or Thai Chicken Satay Skewers
Asian Marinated Chicken
Asian Chilli Garlic Shrimp/Prawns – big punchy flavours, tastes like Thai Chilli jam!
Marinated Thai Chicken (Gai Yang)
Chinese Barbecue Pork (Char Siu)

Ingredients: 

CHICKEN
1 tbsp oil
5 oz / 150g chicken breast , thinly sliced (or other protein)
1 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce, Note 1)

RICE
1.5 tbsp oil
2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
1 tsp red chilli , finely chopped (Note 2)
1 onion , small, diced
3 cups cooked white rice , day old, cold (Note 3)
2 tbsp kecap manis (sweet soy sauce, Note 1)
2 tsp shrimp paste , optional (Note 4)

GARNISHES / SIDE SERVINGS (OPTIONAL)
4 eggs , fried to taste
1 green onion , sliced
Tomatoes and cucumbers, cut into wedges/chunks
Fried shallots , store bought (optional) (Note 3)
Lime wedges

Directions: 

Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.
Add chili and garlic, stir for 10 seconds.
Add onion, cook for 1 minute.
Add chicken, cook until it mostly turns white, then add 1 tbsp kecap manis and cook for a further 1 minute or until chicken is mostly cooked through and a bit caramelized.

Recipe Notes:

1. Kecap Manis (sometimes called Ketjap Manis) is an Indonesian sweet soy sauce that is thicker than other soy sauces. Sometimes just labelled as “sweet soy sauce”. Consistency resembles maple syrup, available in most supermarkets in Australia (Woolworths, Coles, Harris Farms).
Also easy to make your own! Just combine 1/4 cup ordinary soy sauce (I use Kikkoman) and 1/4 cup brown sugar over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and reduce until it becomes a maple syrup consistency. It will thicken more when it cools.

2. Chilli – I use 2 birds eye or Thai red chillies, adds a mild warmth, doesn’t make it spicy. Adjust to taste. Chilli paste can also be used instead – add it when you add the rice.

3. Day old cooked rice – All types of fried rice are best made using day old cooked rice that has been refrigerated overnight. It dries it out, making it easier to stir fry to evenly coat the grains with the flavourings. TIP: Keep bags of cooked rice in the freezer! Fabulous for fried rice, or even using plain.

4. Shrimp paste – Adds depth of flavour and complexity, but is optional. Traditional dish uses belacan which is dried shrimp blocks, requires crumbling then toasting prior to use. Same flavour achieved with any shrimp paste which you can just dollop in. Any shrimp paste brand/type is fine.
Still tasty WITHOUT shrimp paste. SUB with more kecap mans OR 1 tbsp fish sauce!

SERVING
Make it a meal – traditional Indonesian style!: Serve with a fried egg sunny side up (runny yolk!), tomato wedges and slices of cucumber on the side. Serve, garnished with garnishes of choice (green onions, red chili, fried shallots).

Servings: 4
Preheat: 425
Prep Time: 30
Source: https://www.loveandlemons.com/sweet-potato-salad-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-51120

This roasted sweet potato salad recipe is a delicious lunch or side dish! If you’re making it in advance, wait to add the dressing and the avocado until right before you eat.

Ingredients: 

4 sweet Potatoes, cubed
1 recipe Tahini Dressing (below)
4 cups arugula
⅓ cup crumbled feta
1 avocado, sliced
Lemon wedge, for squeezing
3 tablespoons toasted pepitas or toasted pine nuts
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tahini Dressing
¼ cup smooth tahini (not the dry, stiff stuff at the bottom of a jar)
3 tablespoons water, more if needed
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 small garlic clove, grated
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 425°F and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Toss the sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread evenly onto the baking sheets. Roast for 25 minutes or until the edges are browned.

In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, water, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup, sesame oil, garlic, and salt until smooth. If the dressing is too thick, add more water, ½ tablespoon at a time, until it’s a drizzleable consistency.

Assemble the salad on a large platter with the arugula, a drizzle of dressing, the sweet potatoes, and feta. Top with the avocado slices and squeeze a little lemon juice over the avocado. Drizzle with more dressing and top with the pepitas or pine nuts. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Servings: 4
Preheat: 
Prep Time: 1 hour
Source: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021827-creamy-vegan-polenta-with-mushrooms-and-kale?searchResultPosition=2

I modified this to make it non-vegan and added dried porcini mushrooms, because they make everything more delicious. We made it with chard, but chard wilts quickly in the mushrooms and doesn’t present well in leftovers, so I would recommend using kale. We left out the rosemary, and it was fine.

Ingredients: 

FOR THE POLENTA:
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, plus more as needed
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 ½ cups polenta, medium- or coarse-grind cornmeal, or corn grits
3 tablespoons butter

FOR THE MUSHROOMS:
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more as needed
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced 1/4-inch thick
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms, soaked for 30 minutes in 1/2 cup warm water, then chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
4 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
⅔ cup full-bodied red wine
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 large or 2 small bunches (about 10 ounces) kale (best) or Swiss chard, stemmed, then leaves torn into bite-size pieces
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving

Directions: 

Make the polenta: Bring 6 cups vegetable broth and 1 teaspoon salt to boil in a large saucepan. Gradually whisk in the polenta, then turn the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the polenta has thickened to your liking, 10 to 15 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the butter. Season to taste with salt and black pepper; cover and set aside.

Prepare the mushrooms: While the polenta simmers, heat the olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add filtered water used to soak porcini mushroom to pan. Raise the heat to medium-high, and add the fresh mushrooms and, optionally, the rosemary to the skillet. Cook, tossing occasionally and adding a splash of olive oil if the pan looks dry, until the mushrooms have released their water and are tender, 4 to 6 minutes.

Add the garlic and red-pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. (Be careful not to let the garlic burn.) Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring to incorporate, until it turns a rusty brown color and begins to caramelize on the bottom of the pan.

Add the red wine and cook, stirring and scraping the brown bits from the pan, until the liquid is reduced by about half.

Add the 1 cup vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer. Begin adding handfuls of kale, cooking and stirring until the kale wilts. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid in the pan reduces and thickens, about 10 minutes.

Off the heat, stir in the vinegar and add salt and pepper to taste. Reheat the polenta over medium-low, adding a splash of broth to loosen it if necessary. Serve the polenta and braised mushrooms and kale in shallow bowls, sprinkled with parsley.