Unique Recipes: How to Cook Turkey Necks
In the world of delicacies, turkey necks are often overlooked. But in fact, it is a delicious treasure. As long as you master the correct cooking method, you can turn it into a mouth-watering delicacy.
What are some common cooking methods for cooking turkey necks?
Braising
After washing the turkey neck, put it into the braising juice. Add common spices such as cinnamon stick, star anise and laurel leaf to the braising juice. Then add an appropriate amount of soy sauce, salt and rock sugar for seasoning. Simmer it over low heat to let the turkey neck fully absorb the taste of the braising juice. After braising, it has a firm taste and is full of flavor. It can also be eaten directly as a snack.
Roasting
First, marinate the turkey neck with seasonings such as salt, pepper and light soy sauce to make it taste flavorful. Then put it into the oven and roast it at about 200 degrees. Turn it over in time during the roasting process. When the surface turns golden and slightly charred, the roasted turkey neck has a crispy outer skin, tender inside and strong fragrance.
Stewing
Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, put the turkey neck in, add ginger slices, scallion sections and cooking wine to remove the fishy smell. Then add some side dishes such as potatoes and carrots. Add an appropriate amount of salt and dark soy sauce for seasoning. Simmer it over low heat until the turkey neck and the side dishes are soft and rotten, and the soup is thick. It tastes rich when eaten.
Stir-frying
Cut the turkey neck into sections first and marinate it with salt and cooking wine, etc. Heat the oil in the pan until it is hot, then put the turkey neck in and stir-fry. Then add seasonings such as chili peppers and Sichuan pepper to stir-fry until fragrant. You can also stir-fry it with side dishes such as green peppers and onions. After stir-frying, it has a spicy and delicious taste and goes well with rice.
How do you clean turkey necks before cooking?
First, rinse the surface repeatedly with clean water to remove blood stains and impurities. Then soak it in salt water for 15 minutes to effectively remove the peculiar smell. Finally, blanch it in warm water for 2-3 minutes. It's better to add some ginger slices and cooking wine.
It should be especially noted to clean the folds in the neck, because this is where dirt is most likely to accumulate. When cleaning, the water temperature should not be too high, otherwise it will easily damage the meat quality. After processing, drain the water before carrying out the subsequent cooking to keep the taste.
Some people think this blanching step can be omitted, but experience tells us that this step is very important. It can not only remove the fishy smell but also make the meat quality more firm.
What food goes well with turkey neck?
Vegetable combination:
Turkey neck is suitable for matching with green peppers, garlic shoots and onions, which can make the taste level more distinct. The crispness of green peppers and the chewiness of turkey neck complement each other. Carrots and potatoes are also good choices for side dishes. When stir-frying, they can absorb the fragrance of turkey neck and make the taste more rich.
Flavor combination:
If you like heavy taste, you can add dried chili peppers or fermented black beans to enhance the flavor and make the dish have a unique taste.
Beverage combination:
Beer or lemonade is recommended for beverages. Beer can neutralize the greasy feeling, and lemonade is sweet and sour, which can remove the greasy feeling and refresh.
Eating suggestions:
Turkey neck has a high protein content. It is recommended to eat less at night to avoid affecting sleep.
How to thaw a frozen turkey before cooking?
The safest way to thaw is to put the turkey in the refrigerator compartment. It usually takes 24-36 hours. For every 2.5 kilograms of turkey, it takes about one day. This can keep the meat tender.
When thawing, put the turkey on a tray to avoid the water from the thawing process polluting other food. Never thaw it with hot water or at room temperature, as this is easy to breed bacteria and affect food safety.
After thawing, cook it in time. It is not recommended to freeze it again. To check the degree of thawing, you can press the thickest part of the turkey. If it still feels hard, it needs to be thawed continuously. After thawing, remember to dry the surface water, so that it is easier to get colored.
Why is my turkey neck so bad?
The reason why the taste of turkey neck is not good is mainly because the cooking time is not mastered properly. Cooking it for too long will make the meat tough and hard. If it is not cooked enough, it will appear raw and astringent. This is indeed the most common problem.
Marinating and seasoning are also very crucial. It is recommended to marinate 4-6 hours in advance and add an appropriate amount of ginger slices, star anise and cinnamon stick to make the taste more intense. When purchasing, it is best to choose turkey neck with firm meat texture and uniform color. The freshness directly affects the final taste.
When cooking, simmer it over medium heat. When it can be easily pierced through with chopsticks, you can turn off the heat. In this way, it can keep the moisture and not be too hard. If it is found that the cooked turkey neck is still not flavorful enough, you can soak it in the soup for a little longer.
Can turkey neck be reheated?
Sure. It is best to choose the methods of steaming or boiling. Put the turkey neck into the pot, add the original soup and heat it over low heat for 3-5 minutes to restore the taste.
Although microwave heating is convenient, it is easy to make the meat texture become drier and harder. If you have to use the microwave, it is recommended to add a little hot water when putting the turkey neck on the plate, seal it with plastic wrap, and heat it over medium heat for about 1 minute.
The refrigerated turkey neck had better be eaten within 3 days. The number of repeated heating should not exceed twice, so as to ensure the freshness and taste of the ingredients. It is best to place it at room temperature for 10 minutes before heating to make the heating more uniform.
