3 New Ways to Cook a Better Thanksgiving Turkey
Julia Bainbridge, Bon Appetit
For some, good old salted and buttered roast turkey is the best. These folks look forward to a traditional Thanksgiving bird all year long. But plenty of our readers tell us that turkey isn't really their bag. Or maybe it is, but they want that tried-and-true recipe zhuzhed up a little. To those people, we say: We hear you. And we got you. Why not take a cue from Indian cuisine, or brine the turkey in apple cider, or throw some Cajun spice mix on there? Why not indeed. Here are three very untraditional--and very awesome--ways to cook turkey.
Get the recipe: Tandoori Turkey
Parsley, sage, rosemary, and... (yawn). Try coriander, cumin, and cardamom instead. This bold bird, inspired by the tandoori cooking of India, will wake up your holiday table, plus it plays well with Riesling, one of our sleeper picks for Thanksgiving wine.
Get the recipe: Cider-Brined Turkey with Star Anise and Cinnamon
Chef Anita Lo's Asian-inspired twist incorporates scallions, ginger, star anise, and a cider brine. "The ingredients, except the cider, are classic 'red-cooking' flavorings used in Chinese cooking to braise and glaze meats like pork or duck," she says.
Get the recipe: Cajun-Spiced Turkey
Alabama fashion designer Billy Reid and chef John Currence coat their turkey in a cayenne pepper-heavy Cajun Spice Mix, coloring the bird's skin and helping it get ultra crispy. Bonus: You can use the leftover spice mix to season fish or gumbo.
And hey, you classicists, we got you, too.
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