MOLE-ROASTED TURKEY WITH MASA STUFFING AND CHILE GRAVY

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Mole-Roasted Turkey with Masa Stuffing and Chile Gravy image

This gorgeous bird emerges from the oven nearly black and very deeply flavored. However, don't look for crisp skin; the mole keeps both the flesh and skin tender and moist. Be sure to start the turkey at least one hour and up to eight hours ahead to allow for marinating time. The easiest way to do this is to spread on the mole before you go to bed and let the turkey marinate in the fridge overnight.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     turkey     Roast     Thanksgiving     Dinner     Fall     Winter     Hominy/Cornmeal/Masa     Sugar Conscious     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added

Yield Makes 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

For turkey:
1 (12- to 14-pound) turkey, any feathers or quills removed with tweezers or needlenose pliers; neck, heart, and gizzard removed and reserved for making Quick Turkey Stock (discard liver or reserve for another use)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Turkey Mole Sauce
Masa Stuffing
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Approximately 2 cups Quick Turkey Stock
For gravy:
2 cups Quick Turkey Stock
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon chile powder
kitchen string
aluminum foil
bulb baster
instant-read thermometer
Special Equipment
large flameproof roasting pan with flat or V-shaped rack; kitchen string; aluminum foil; bulb baster (optional); instant-read thermometer

Steps:

  • Prepare turkey:
  • Rinse turkey and pat dry. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper and transfer to roasting pan. Set aside 1 1/2 cups mole for serving (refrigerate until ready to use), then coat turkey inside and out with remainder. Cover turkey with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours.
  • Arrange oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to 450°F. Butter 2-quart casserole or 8-inch square baking dish.
  • Loosely fill main cavity of turkey with stuffing. Transfer remaining stuffing to prepared dish and drizzle with 1/2 cup stock. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to bake. Dab turkey all over with melted butter. Tuck wing tips under breast and loosely tie legs together with kitchen string. Pour 1/4 cup stock into pan.
  • Roast turkey 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F, cover turkey loosely with foil, and continue roasting 45 minutes more. Remove foil, add 1/4 cup stock to pan, and continue to roast, basting with pan juices every 30 minutes, 1 1/2 hours more.
  • Increase oven temperature to 450°F, rotate pan 180° in oven, and add 1/4 cup stock to pan. Remove extra stuffing from refrigerator (do not uncover) and transfer to oven alongside turkey. Bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake until top is golden brown, about 15 minutes more. Keep warm, covered. Meanwhile, continue to roast turkey, adding 1/4 cup stock to pan and basting every 15 minutes, until instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh (do not touch bone) registers 170°F, about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours more (2 1/2 to 3 hours total).
  • Transfer turkey to platter (do not clean roasting pan). Insert thermometer into center of stuffing. If thermometer does not read 165°F, remove stuffing and microwave until 165°F. Keep warm. Let turkey rest at least 1/2 hour before carving.
  • While turkey is resting, make gravy:
  • Straddle roasting pan across 2 burners on moderately high heat. Add stock and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits on bottom of pan. Remove from heat.
  • In medium saucepan melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until roux is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add stock mixture in steady stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, then simmer until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Strain through fine-mesh sieve into medium bowl and stir in lime juice, salt, and chile powder. Keep warm.
  • In small saucepan over low heat, gently reheat reserved mole sauce. Serve turkey with gravy and mole alongside.

Sekolo Thobela
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I'm not a fan of mole sauce, but I loved this recipe. The turkey was cooked perfectly and the stuffing was delicious. I would definitely make this recipe again, but I would use a different sauce.


Ray Utono
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The turkey was moist and flavorful, and the mole sauce was divine. The masa stuffing was also a nice addition. I will definitely be making this recipe again.


Naeem Qasmi
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This recipe was a bit too challenging for me. The mole sauce was difficult to make and the turkey took a long time to cook. However, the results were worth it. The turkey was delicious and the mole sauce was amazing.


Shern Reid
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I loved this recipe! The mole sauce was my favorite part. It's so rich and flavorful. I also love the masa stuffing. It's a nice change from the traditional bread stuffing.


Felipe Ortiz
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This recipe was easy to follow and the results were amazing. The turkey was cooked perfectly and the mole sauce was divine. The masa stuffing was also a nice addition. I will definitely be making this recipe again.


Liam Hammock
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I'm not a fan of mole sauce, but I loved this recipe. The turkey was cooked perfectly and the stuffing was delicious. I would definitely make this recipe again, but I would use a different sauce.


Sarmila Nayaju
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The turkey was moist and flavorful, and the mole sauce was divine. The masa stuffing was also a nice addition. I will definitely be making this recipe again.


Raiyan Sarif
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This recipe was a bit too challenging for me. The mole sauce was difficult to make and the turkey took a long time to cook. However, the results were worth it. The turkey was delicious and the mole sauce was amazing.


Makenzy Jones
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I love this recipe! The mole sauce is my favorite part. It's so rich and flavorful. I also love the masa stuffing. It's a nice change from the traditional bread stuffing.


Iain Fyfe
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I'm not a big fan of turkey, but this recipe changed my mind. The mole sauce was so flavorful and the turkey was moist and tender. The masa stuffing was also a nice addition. This recipe is a keeper!


Richard Mashaw
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This recipe was easy to follow and the results were amazing. The turkey was cooked perfectly and the mole sauce was divine. The masa stuffing was also a nice touch. I will definitely be making this recipe again.


Muhammad Anfal
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The mole sauce was a bit too spicy for my taste, but the turkey and stuffing were delicious. I would definitely make this recipe again, but I would use a milder mole sauce.


Teresa Soares
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I made this recipe for Christmas dinner and it was a huge success! The turkey was moist and juicy, and the sauce was amazing. My guests raved about it and asked for the recipe. Definitely a keeper!


Ch. Kashi
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This turkey was a hit at our Thanksgiving dinner! The mole sauce was flavorful and rich, and the masa stuffing was a nice change from the traditional bread stuffing. The chile gravy was also a great addition, and it added a bit of spice to the dish.