Pasilla Chile Rubbed Turkey Recipes

PASILLA CHILE-RUBBED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Wrap the garlic in foil and roast on a baking sheet until tender, about 40 minutes. Let cool, then unwrap and squeeze out 20 garlic cloves onto a plate (reserve the rest for another use). Reduce the oven temperature to 350˚ F.
• Place the pasilla chiles on a baking sheet. Roast until fragrant and a bit softened, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with water and soak until further softened, 10 to 15 minutes; drain. Discard the stems, then seed the chiles, if desired.
• Transfer the chiles to a blender with the garlic, tomatoes, chopped onions, agave, 3 tablespoons salt, the olive oil and mustard; puree. Transfer to a bowl; fold in the cilantro.
• Spread the chile paste all over the turkey. Loosen the skin on the breast and drumsticks; spread some paste underneath.
• Put the turkey breast-side up in a roasting pan; stuff the quartered onion, carrots and celery in the cavity, then tie the legs together with twine. Roast, basting with the pan juices and rotating the pan halfway through, until a thermometer inserted into the breast registers 165˚ F, about 3 hours. Tent with foil if the turkey gets too dark; add some stock or water to the pan to keep the drippings from burning. Let rest 30 minutes before carving.

ANCHO-RUBBED TURKEY

Steps:

• Cook the ancho chiles, sesame seeds and cumin seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, stirring, until the seeds are toasted and the anchos are pliable, 3 minutes. Transfer the anchos to a bowl; transfer the seeds to a food processor. Cover the anchos with hot water and let soften, 5 to 10 minutes; drain, then remove the stems and seeds. Add the anchos to the food processor. Add the Fresno chile, garlic, scallions, parsley and cilantro leaves, olive oil, raisins and 1 tablespoon salt to the food processor. Pulse to make a paste.
• Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey; set aside for the gravy. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Work your fingers between the skin and the meat on the breast and the top of the legs. Rub the chile paste under the skin and on the outside. Stuff the parsley and cilantro stems into the cavity. Season inside and out with 1 tablespoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Put the turkey on a rack set in a large roasting pan; tuck the wings under the body. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Position an oven rack in the lowest position (remove the other racks); preheat to 350 degrees F. Uncover the turkey and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Roast until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 2 1/2 to 3 hours, tenting any parts that brown too quickly with foil. Meanwhile, start your gravy (or serve this turkey with defatted pan drippings).
• Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before carving. Serve with the gravy or pan drippings.

SLOW-COOKED RED CHILE TURKEY

Steps:

• Season turkey generously with salt and pepper, then set aside at room temperature.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Quickly rinse chiles and pat dry. Put chiles on a baking sheet in one layer and bake just until fragrant and lightly toasted, about 5 to 7 minutes, then cool. (Alternatively, toast chiles in batches in a dry cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, turning them frequently.) Split chiles lengthwise with a sharp knife. Remove and discard stems and seeds (wear gloves if you have sensitive skin).
• Put chiles in a saucepan, cover with 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, then let cool.
• Remove chiles from cooking liquid and place in a blender jar. Add a cup or so of cooking liquid and purée to a smooth paste, adding more liquid if the mixture seems very thick.
• Put a large wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil, then add onion and a little salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 5 minutes or so. Lower heat as necessary to keep onion from browning. Add coriander, cumin, garlic and bay leaf, then add chile purée and let simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You should have about 4 cups sauce.
• Put seasoned turkey in a Dutch oven or deep roasting pan. Pour red chile sauce over, making sure meat is well coated. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 1 1/2 hours, until turkey falls from the bone when probed with a fork.
• To serve, put turkey on a platter and cut meat into large pieces. Nap with sauce and garnish with cilantro sprigs. For more casual dining, serve directly from pot.

GRILLED CHILE-LIME TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Blend ancho chiles, pasilla chiles, cumin, onion, salt, and pepper together using a spice or coffee grinder into a fine powder. Pour spice blend into a bowl and stir in brown sugar.
• Squeeze lime juice over turkey and rub with spice blend. Let marinate for about 1 hour.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Reduce grill temperature to medium. Remove turkey from marinade, reserve any excess for basting. Sear turkey breast on the preheated grill, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Turn 1/2 of the grill burners off. Roast breast on the grill for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn turkey over and baste with reserved marinade; cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), 15 to 20 minutes more. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.