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Lynn's
Achiote Turkey with Ancho Gravy
2 fresh poblano chiles
3 dried ancho chiles, stemmed, halved and seeded
1 (22 to 24 pound) turkey, giblets discarded
1 large white onion, quartered
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons achiote paste (available in Latin American markets)
4 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup Masa Harina (corn tortilla mix, available in Latin American
markets and many supermarkets)
Salt and pepper to taste
Char the poblano chiles over a gas flame or in a broiler until blackened on
all sides. Enclose chiles in a paper or plastic bag. Let stand 10 minutes to
steam. Peel and seed chiles.
Toast ancho chiles in a heavy, large skillet over high heat until the color
darkens slightly and the chilies are fragrant, about 30 seconds per side.
Transfer the ancho chiles to a medium-size bowl. Add enough hot water to the
bowl to cover the chiles. Let stand until the chilies soften, about 20 minutes.
Puree four ancho chile halves with 1/2 cup soaking liquid in a blender. Add
the roasted poblano chiles; puree. Season with salt and pepper. Drain the
remaining two chile halves; chill. (Puree and soaked chiles can be made one day
ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Rinse the turkey inside and out, and pat dry. Sprinkle the turkey with salt
and pepper. Cut the remaining two ancho chile halves into strips. Place the
chile strips and onion in the turkey cavity.
Mix the butter and achiote paste in a small bowl to blend. Run your fingers
between the turkey breast skin and meat to loosen. Rub half of the achiote
butter over turkey breast under skin. Rub butter over the outside of turkey.
Place turkey in a large roasting pan. Tuck wings under the turkey. Tie legs
together to hold shape. Pour 1 1/2 cups of stock into the pan.
Roast the turkey 45 minutes. Tent the turkey loosely with foil. Continue
roasting until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh
registers 180, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices, about 3 1/2 hours.
Transfer the turkey to platter. Tent with foil.
Pour the turkey pan juices into a measuring cup. Spoon off the fat from the
pan juices, reserving 1/4 cup of fat. Add enough remaining stock to the pan
juices to measure 3 cups. Return 1/4 cup fat to the roasting pan. Place the pan
over two burners set at medium heat. Add the Masa Harina; whisk until the
mixture resembles a paste, scraping up any browned bits, about 2 minutes.
Gradually whisk in the pan juices. Add chile puree; simmer 4 minutes to blend
the flavors. Season gravy with salt and pepper. Serve turkey with gravy
You only lose energy when life becomes dull in your mind. Your
mind gets bored and therefore tired of doing nothing. Get interested in
something! Get absolutely enthralled in something! Get out of yourself! Be
somebody! Do something. The more you lose yourself in something bigger than
yourself, the more energy you will have.
- Norman Vincent Peale