Southwestern Rubbed Turkey

From EatingWell:  October/November 2005Subscribe Now!

No votes yet

Smoked paprika is the key to the turkey rub in this recipe. It can be purchased in gourmet markets and online at www.tienda.com. Roasting the bird breast-side down for the first half keeps the breast meat succulent and moist.


Southwestern Rubbed Turkey Recipe

12 servings, 3 ounces each, plus plenty of leftovers

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground (see Tip)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons plus 2 cups water, divided
  • 1 12-pound turkey, giblets removed

Preparation

  1. Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 350°F.
  2. Mix paprika, ground cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a small bowl; stir in 2 tablespoons water to make a paste. Rub the mixture all over the turkey, particularly under the skin and onto the breast meat.
  3. Place the turkey breast-side down on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Add 2 cups water to the pan. Roast for 1 1/2 hours.
  4. Remove the turkey from the oven and turn it over"either use silicon oven gloves or cover the bird with foil and use cloth oven mitts to turn it over. Continue roasting, basting occasionally with pan juices, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 180°F, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours more. If the bird is browning too deeply, tent with foil while it continues to bake. If the pan runs out of juices, add about 1/2 cup water, scrape up any browned bits, and use this liquid for basting. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before carving.

Tips & Notes

  • Tip: Toast cumin seeds in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool. Grind in a spice mill or blender into a fine powder.

Nutrition

Per serving: 346 calories; 6 g fat (2 g sat, 1 g mono); 222 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrates; 67 g protein; 1 g fiber; 348 mg sodium; 606 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (118% daily value), Zinc (60% dv), Iron (30% dv), Potassium (17% dv).

Exchanges: 9 very lean meat, 1 fat

Recipe Categories

Ethnic/Regional
Southwest
Mexican
Type of Dish
Main dish, poultry
Publication
October/November 2005
Season
Winter
Fall
Meal/Course
Dinner

Main Ingredient
Turkey
Servings
8 or more
Total Time
More than 1 hour
Ease of Preparation
Easy

Free Newsletters

EatingWell This Week
EatingWell Diet
HealthESavers Coupons
EatingWell for Health
EatingWell Store
And special offer emails
Advertisement

EatingWell Magazine

Advertisement
Advertisement

The EatingWell Market

Featured Sponsors