The turkey. Even if you’re not a fan of turkey, this bird is still the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving spread. I’m not in the minority when I say this, the turkey can be well — a little boring. Sure, golden skin is nice, but can we be open and honest and say that the turkey needs a serious revamp? Luckily, you don’t need to jump through hoops for amazing taste this season, it all comes down to a simple rub or a finishing glaze. So if you want to wake up your turkey, here are some no-fuss ways to amp up the flavor.
Chinese Spice
Warm spices make the backbone of many Chinese recipes and can turn the volume up on turkey. You don’t have to use the traditional five-spice blend, instead, you can mix and match any of these long-standing Chinese culinary ingredients — star anise, clove, peppercorn, peppers, cinnamon, fennel, cardamom, cumin, or dried orange peel — are great ways to turn simple into complex and savory. Some spices, like star anise, are very overpowering, and using them sparingly is especially good if you don’t like that sort of licorice taste. Any of these spices go great with another popular ingredient, ginger. Ground or freshly grated, ginger is a great addition. Make a paste of grated ginger and freshly ground spices and rub it with butter or sesame oil underneath or above the turkey skin.
Orange Zest
Orange zest isn’t just an easy flavoring, but this citrus skin is impactful. Many of the side dishes — like brussel sprouts, green beans, cornbread, and cranberry sauce, pair well with the bright floral notes of orange. The zest will complement the turkey with the rest of the Thanksgiving meal. Grate a couple of tablespoons of fresh orange zest and mix it with butter, use this as the turkey rub, adding more throughout the roasting process to keep the outside moist.
Southern Italian
The flavors of southern Italy can take your turkey on a trip across the Mediterranean. Ingredients like parsley, basil, lemons, and Calabrian chilis are classic regional ingredients, but luckily you don’t need to go to Italy to get them. Nowadays, you can easily find these key flavorings in the grocery store, even the Calabrian chilis are readily available from most big online retailers. Filling the cavity of the bird with fresh herbs and lemons will impart a wonderful aromatic taste to this meat. You can even make a pesto-like rub with the herbs. To keep with the southern Italian theme, use Campania’s popular ingredient walnuts, or Sicily’s almonds instead of pine nuts.
Honey Garlic
Garlic’s sweetness is amplified by pairing it with honey. You can start by adding a slice of garlic into the bird’s cavity and then stick some cloves underneath the skin. Butter baste the turkey, and as the meat is close to being done, start brushing on a mixture of honey and minced garlic — this will create a thick, shiny glaze.
White Miso Sesame
Sweet, earthy, savory, and salty white miso paste is a one-stop ingredient for quick flavor. Paired with sesame seeds or ground sesame paste and you have a new way to love turkey. Mix miso paste and sesame (seeds or paste) with softened butter and use this to coat under and above the turkey skin.