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+ servings

Puerto Rican Turkey

Forget about talking turkey it's time to devour it. This delicious poultry dish is your perfect savory candidate. Prepare this Puerto Rican turkey with care. Don't fry the achiote seeds or the oil will be bitter. If baking stuffing separately, place in the oven about 45 minutes before turkey is done.
Cuisine Continental
Servings 12 servings
Calories 13454.72 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup(s) olive oil
  • 1/50 cup(s) achiote seeds
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon(s) cumin
  • 6 teaspoon(s) coarse salt
  • 2 teaspoon(s) freshly ground pepper
  • 1 teaspoon(s) dried thyme
  • 192 ounce(s) turkey
  • 8 ounce(s) salt pork
  • 2 floz gold rum
  • 1/2 cup(s) golden raisins
  • 6 black-ripe plantains
  • 4 tablespoon(s) butter
  • 1/4 cup(s) brown sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions
 

  • Heat oil over "low" heat.
  • Add achiote seeds and set aside, covered, for 10 minutes, until the oil is bright red-orange.
  • Strain the oil and set it aside to cool.
  • Mash the garlic with the cumin, salt, pepper and thyme.
  • Add enough oil to form a paste.
  • Rinse the turkey and pat it dry.
  • Rub it all over with the spice paste, separating skin from meat and rubbing between where possible.
  • Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
  • Cube the salt pork.
  • Cook over medium-high heat in a heavy skillet, stirring, until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes.
  • Drain and set aside.
  • Pour rum over raisins and set aside.
  • Peel and cube plantains.
  • Melt butter in a skillet and saute plantains briefly.
  • Add brown sugar, cinnamon stick and 1/2 cup water.
  • Cook until the plantains are soft, about 20 minutes.
  • Add rum and raisins; cook 10 minutes more.
  • Stir in half the fried pork.
  • If desired, loosely fill the turkey cavity with stuffing.
  • Or place it in a casserole and refrigerate.
  • Roast turkey at 325 degrees, basting occasionally with pan drippings, for about 4 hours, until thigh temperature is 180 degrees and stuffing 165 degrees.
  • Let turkey rest 15 minutes before carving.
  • Remove and discard cinnamon stick.
  • Garnish stuffing with remaining fried pork.
  • Ready in 4 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 13454.72kcalCarbohydrates: 222.31gProtein: 1597.38gFat: 627.36gSaturated Fat: 198.06gCholesterol: 6290.4mgSodium: 25245.04mgFiber: 13.06gSugar: 138.68g
Keyword Chicken, Pork
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