Ggs Cajun Spiced Turkey Drumsticks Food

CAJUN-INJECTED SPICY TURKEY

Steps:

• Make the marinade by combining the Worcestershire sauce, crab boil, apple cider, honey, beer, salt, allspice, Creole seasoning, cayenne, olive oil, and minced garlic in a blender and process until very smooth, about 5 minutes. Fill a large syringe* and inject turkey in the breast and thigh area, as well as the back, wings, and legs, with at least 2/3 of the marinade. You will have to fill the syringe numerous times.
• Preheat the oven to 420 degrees F and line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil.
• Season the injected turkey well both inside and out with the kosher salt and black pepper. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan lined with aluminum foil and pour the remaining marinade all over the turkey. Bake the turkey uncovered for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, add 1 cup of the chicken broth to the roasting pan, and continue to bake the turkey until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deepest part between the thigh and the leg registers 165 degrees F. (If the turkey begins to brown too much, tent loosely with aluminum foil until it is done. Also, add more broth as necessary to keep the bottom of the roasting pan from burning.)
• When the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and set aside to rest at least 20 minutes before carving.

BAKED CAJUN CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Place chicken in a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. Drizzle vegetable oil over the chicken. Seal the bag and massage the oil into the chicken.
• Combine paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, basil, thyme, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Mix until evenly combined. Pour spice mixture into the bag with the chicken. Seal the bag and toss to coat.
• Transfer drumsticks to the prepared baking sheet, discarding the plastic bag.
• Bake until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• For extra crispy skin, set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Broil chicken for 5 minutes.

GG'S CAJUN SPICED TURKEY DRUMSTICKS

Steps:

• Melt 2 Tbsp butter in a skillet.
• Sauté turkey, onions and garlic until browned.
• Place in a casserole dish and top with butter, hot sauce and black pepper.
• Bake at 350 degrees until done, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Serve with blue cheese dressing.

CAJUN BRINED TURKEY-TWO WAYS

Steps:

• Two days before cooking: Combine the Spanish paprika, New Mexican chile powder, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, chile de arbol and cayenne in a small bowl. Remove 1/4 cup for another use, such as the Eggplant Casserole with Red Pepper Pesto and Cajun Breadcrumbs. Dissolve the salt and sugar in 2 gallons cold water in a large (at least 16-quart) stockpot or a clean bucket. Whisk in half of the remaining spice rub, the garlic, bay leaves and onion. Add the turkey, cover and refrigerate or set in a very cold place (that stays somewhere between 32 to 40 degrees F) for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Rinse well under cold water and pat dry to remove the salt. Let air-dry in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
• In The Big Green Egg: Light a large chimney filled with charcoal briquettes (about 5 quarts) and allow to burn until all the charcoal is covered with a layer of fine gray ash. Empty the coals into the grill. Top with some of the soaked wood chips if using. Put in the ceramic plate, then the grill rack. Put the cover on and let the grate heat up. Brush the turkey with oil and rub the entire turkey (including the cavity) with the remaining spice rub. Tie the legs together. Adjust the grill vents to get and maintain an internal temperature of 350 degrees F. Roast the turkey for 2 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted in the thigh reads 165 degrees F. Remove from the grill, tent with foil and let rest for 30 minutes before carving.
• In the Caja China: Prepare the charcoal briquettes according to the instructions that come with the box. Put the roasting pan with its rack (comes with the box) inside, and put the turkey breast-side down on the rack. Put on the top and fill with charcoal. After 30 minutes, flip the turkey breast-side up and continue cooking for about 1 more hour, until a meat thermometer inserted in the thigh reads 165 degrees F. Add charcoal as necessary according to the box instructions. Remove from the box, tent with foil and let rest for 30 minutes before carving.

TENDER-AS-CAN-BE TURKEY WINGS, DRUMSTICKS, AND NECKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250F (low). Heat 1 tbsp butter and the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet (or transfer to 9x13 after browning) over medium high heat.
• Add wings and drumsticks only. Sear outside to brown, turning as needed, about 5 minutes.
• Add necks so that all the meat is single layer in the pan. Season well with remaining butter, salt, and black pepper. (Brush with BBQ sauce now if using).
• Cover tightly with lid or aluminum foil and bake for about 3 1/2 hours (4 hrs if using legs).
• Carefully remove lid (watch for steam). Enjoy.

ENCRUSTED TURKEY DRUMSTICKS

Steps:

• Skin and season turkey legs with salt and pepper (or your favorite seasoning salt).
• Shake the legs in a plastic bag, with seasoned (salt and pepper) flour to coat.
• Coat legs in beaten mixture of egg and Tabasco.
• Press legs in fresh bread crumbs to coat.
• Place legs on foiled baking sheet.
• Microwave butter and garlic for one minute.
• Pour melted butter mixture over turkey drumsticks.
• Sprinkle thyme on each drumstick. Bake 350 for 2-21/2 hours uncovered (but cover with foil if you think crust is getting too browned). No need to turn drumsticks over while baking.
• An hour before the meat is done you can throw buttered/oiled/seasoned halved new potatoes (or any root vegetable for that matter) to be baked alongside the drumsticks.

CAJUN BUTTER SPATCHCOCKED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Fit an 18-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack.
• To spatchcock the turkey, use a large chef's knife or kitchen shears to cut along both sides of the backbone. Remove the backbone and reserve for stock if desired. Place the turkey breast-side up on a cutting board and use your hands to press the center to break the breastbone and flatten the bird. Use your fingers to gently loosen the skin from the breast and the legs, then place the turkey on the prepared baking sheet.
• To make the Cajun butter, mix together the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt and black pepper in a medium bowl. Place the butter in another medium bowl and mix in the spice mixture until well combined. Transfer a quarter of the Cajun butter to a small microwave-safe bowl and set aside.
• Rub the turkey with the remaining room temperature Cajun butter under the skin and on top of the skin.
• Roast the turkey until the skin begins to brown, about 35 minutes.
• Microwave the reserved Cajun butter until melted, about 10 seconds. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, brush the melted Cajun butter over the crispy skin and roast until golden, about 20 minutes. Baste the turkey with the pan drippings and roast, basting once more, until the internal temperature registers 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 1 hour.
• Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest at least 15 minutes. Pour the juices from the baking sheet into a small serving bowl and reserve for drizzling over the bird. Slice the turkey breasts and transfer to a serving platter. Remove the wings, thighs and legs and transfer to the platter. Slice the 1/2 lemon into rounds. Garnish the turkey with the lemon rounds and herb sprigs if desired.