**Deep-Fried Cajun Turkey: A Culinary Journey to Louisiana**
In the heart of Louisiana, where the bayous flow and the spices dance, a culinary masterpiece awaits: the deep-fried Cajun turkey. This delectable dish is a testament to the region's rich heritage, where bold flavors and soulful cooking techniques intertwine to create an unforgettable taste experience. As you embark on this culinary journey, prepare to tantalize your taste buds with a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more. Discover the secrets behind this iconic dish, from selecting the perfect turkey to mastering the art of deep-frying, and unveil the diverse collection of Cajun-inspired recipes that will transform your Thanksgiving or any special occasion into a feast to remember.
CAJUN DEEP-FRIED TURKEY
Delicious, juicy and tender, this recipe was given to me by a true Cajun sixteen years ago and has been on our Thanksgiving table ever since. The injector and instructions for frying came with our fryer which was a good thing because this original recipe didn't explain all the nuances of frying a turkey. It is well worth the learning process, though. We strain the peanut oil after it cools and pour it back into the containers (I bought it in gallon jugs). It will keep nicely in a cool place, under 40 degrees, or in the refrigerator until needed again.
Provided by Peg in East Tennessee
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Turkey Whole Turkey Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion juice, garlic juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, cayenne pepper and beer. Mix until well blended.
- Use a marinade injecting syringe or turkey baster with an injector tip to inject the marinade all over the turkey including the legs, back, wings, thighs and breasts. Place in a large plastic bag and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Do not use a kitchen trash bag. If your turkey is large, you can use an oven bag.
- When it's time to fry, measure the amount of oil needed by lowering the turkey into the fryer and filling with enough oil to cover it. Remove the turkey and set aside.
- Heat the oil to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). When the oil has come to temperature, lower the turkey into the hot oil slowly using the hanging device that comes with turkey deep-fryers. The turkey should be completely submerged in the oil. Cook for 36 minutes, or 3 minutes per pound of turkey. The turkey is done when the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). Turn off the flame and slowly remove from the oil, making sure all of the oil drains out of the cavity. Allow to rest on a serving platter for about 20 minutes before carving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1035.9 calories, Carbohydrate 2.8 g, Cholesterol 345.8 mg, Fat 70.9 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 91.2 g, SaturatedFat 30.1 g, Sodium 682.2 mg, Sugar 0.7 g
CAJUN RUB FOR DEEP FRIED TURKEY
Steps:
- Blend above and then rub over the entire turkey. This is enough for 1 (10 to 12) pound turkey.
CAJUN DEEP-FRIED TURKEY RECIPE - (4.4/5)
Provided by KennySD
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Stir salt, herbs and peppers together. Mix until well blended. Use 1/2 to 2/3 cup for a 10 to 12 pound turkey. May be stored for several months in an airtight covered jar. Remove the giblets and neck, rinse the turkey well with cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Take care to dry both inside cavities. Place in a large pan and rub the interior and exterior of the bird with rub seasoning. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion juice, garlic juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, cayenne pepper and beer. Mix until well blended. Use a marinade injecting syringe or turkey baster with an injector tip to inject the marinade all over the turkey including the legs, back, wings, thighs and breasts. Place in a large plastic bag and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Do not use a kitchen trash bag. If your turkey is large, you can use an oven bag. To allow for good oil circulation through the cavity, do not truss or tie legs together. Cut off the wing tips and plump little tail as they may get caught in the fryer basket. Heat the oil to 365°F (185°C). When the oil has come to temperature, lower the turkey into the hot oil slowly using the hanging device that comes with turkey deep-fryers. The turkey should be completely submerged in the oil. Immediately check the oil temperature and increase the flame so the oil temperature is maintained at 350°F. If the temperature drops to 340°F. or below, oil will begin to seep into the turkey. Fry about 3 to 4 minutes per pound, or about 35 to 42 minutes for a 10 to 12 pound turkey. Stay with the cooker at all times as the heat must be regulated. When cooked to 170°F. in the breast or 180°F. in the thigh, carefully remove the turkey from the hot oil. Allow the turkey to drain for a few minutes. (Safety tip: allow the oil to cool completely before storing or disposing.) Remove turkey from the rack and place on a serving platter. Allow to rest for 20 minutes before carving.
DEEP FRIED CAJUN TURKEY
Made this for Fathers day. You need a deep fryer, an injector and a thermometer for this. This must be made out doors away from building on a bright sunny day.
Provided by Rita1652
Categories Poultry
Time 1h5m
Yield 10-14 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Take whole turkey place in deep fryer fill with water remove turkey.
- Mark the water line with a marker.
- Spill out water and dry careful not to remove marked line.
- Fill with canola oil.
- Heat oil to 350 degrees.
- In a small pot melt butter and oil and fresh herbs and crushed garlic let simmer 15 minutes.
- Strained and set aside.
- Save garlic and herbs.
- Tie legs and wings with cotton string to keep them in place next to the body.
- Place the chopped strained garlic and herbs under the skin of the turkey.
- Inject the herbed butter-oil mixture into the breast and legs.
- Rub the cajun mixture inside and outside of the turkey.
- Place the turkey breast side up in lowering slowly into oil.
- CAUTION Of splattering oil.
- Fry turkey 3 1/2 minute per pound.
- Use a meat thermometer in the thigh and when it reads 180 degrees its done.
- Remove from hot oil and drain on paper towels.
- Lets rest for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Carve and serve.
- I`m really sorry that I didn`t get a picture of the turkey before I carved it.
- So the carved picture is what you get for now.
- I`m making this for the Fourth of July so I hope to get the picture of the whole turkey then.
DEEP-FRIED CAJUN TURKEY RECIPE - (4.4/5)
Provided by Valarie
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey. Rinse inside of turkey; pat dry with paper towels. If present, remove and discard the plastic leg holder and pop-up timer. Preheat oil to 350°F. For rub, in a small bowl combine salt, paprika, thyme, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Slip your fingers between turkey skin and meat to loosen the skin over the breast and leg areas. Lift skin and spread some of the rub directly over breast, thigh, and drumstick meat. Season body cavity with any remaining rub. Tuck the ends of the drumsticks under the band of skin across the tail or tie legs to tail with 100-percent-cotton string. Twist wing tips under back. Place turkey, breast side up, in basket. Slowly lower basket into hot oil. Be cautious of splattering oil. Maintain oil temperature around 350 degrees F. Fry turkey for 24 to 30 minutes (3 minutes per pound). Remove turkey from hot oil to check doneness. Insert a meat thermometer into the meaty part of the thigh. Turkey is done when thermometer registers 180°F. Remove turkey from hot oil; drain on wire rack. If the turkey has not reached 180°F when you check for doneness, remove the thermometer and slowly lower the turkey back into the oil. Fry 3 to 5 minutes more and check temperature again. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. Variation Turkey Breast Option: Use a 4-pound whole turkey breast with bone. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels. If present, remove pop-up timer. Preheat oil to 350°F. Prepare spice mixture and rub turkey as above. Place in basket and cook as above for 32 minutes (8 minutes per pound) to 170°F. Makes 8 to 10 servings
DEEP FRIED CAJUN TURKEY
Steps:
- Preheat oil to 375 degrees F.
- Stir salt and seasonings together. Mix until well blended. Use 1/2 to 2/3 cup for a 10 to 12 pound turkey. May be stored for several months in an airtight covered jar.
- Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey. Rinse the turkey well with cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Take care to dry both inside cavities. Place in a large pan and rub the interior and exterior of the bird with the seasoning mix. To allow for good oil circulation through the cavity, do not truss or tie legs together. Cut off the wing tips and plump little tail as they may get caught in the fryer basket. Cover pan and place in refrigerator overnight.
- Place the outdoor gas burner on a level dirt or grassy area. Never fry a turkey indoors, in a garage, or in any structure attached to a building. Do not fry on wood decks, which could catch fire, or concrete, which could be stained by the oil. (Safety tip: have a fire extinguisher nearby for added safety). Add oil to a 7 to 10 gallon pot with a basket or a rack. At medium-high setting, heat the oil to 375 degrees F.(depending on the amount of oil, outside temperature and wind conditions, this should take about 20 to 40 minutes).
- Meanwhile, place the turkey in a basket or on a rack, neck down. When the deep-fry thermometer reaches 375 degrees F. slowly lower the turkey into the hot oil. The level of the oil will rise due to the frothing caused by the moisture from the turkey but will stabilize in about 1 minute. (Safety tip: to prevent burns from the splattering oil wear oven mitts/gloves, long sleeves, heavy shoes, and even glasses. It is wise to have 2 people lowering and raising the turkey). Immediately check the oil temperature and increase the flame so the oil temperature is maintained at 350 degrees F. If the temperature drops to 340 degrees F. or below, oil will begin to seep into turkey. Fry about 3 to 4 minutes per pound, or about 35 to 42 minutes for a 10 to 12 pound turkey. Stay with the cooker at all times, as the heat must be regulated. When cooked to 170 degrees F. in the breast or 180 degrees F. in the thigh, carefully remove the turkey for the hot oil. Allow the turkey to drain for a few minutes. (Safety tip: allow the oil to cool completely before storing or disposing). Remove turkey from the rack and place on a serving platter. Allow to rest for 20 minutes before carving.
Tips:
- Use a whole turkey: A whole turkey will give you the most meat and flavor. If you're using a frozen turkey, be sure to thaw it completely before cooking.
- Dry the turkey thoroughly: Pat the turkey dry with paper towels before dredging it in the flour mixture. This will help the flour mixture adhere to the turkey and prevent it from getting soggy.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven: A heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven will help to evenly distribute the heat and prevent the oil from burning.
- Maintain the oil temperature: The oil temperature should be between 350°F and 375°F. If the oil is too hot, the turkey will burn. If the oil is too cold, the turkey will not cook evenly.
- Fry the turkey in batches: If you're cooking a large turkey, you may need to fry it in batches. Be sure to let the oil come back up to temperature between batches.
- Use a meat thermometer: A meat thermometer is the best way to ensure that the turkey is cooked through. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh. The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Conclusion:
Deep-fried Cajun turkey is a delicious and impressive dish that is perfect for any special occasion. With a little planning and preparation, you can easily make this dish at home. Just be sure to follow the tips above and you'll be sure to have a delicious and memorable meal.
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