Entrees » Turkey w/ Riesling, Sauerkraut & Pork Sausages
Ingredients
- 1 cup rendered duck fat
- 3 onions, thinly sliced
- generous pinch of kosher salt
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 6 sprigs fresh parsley
- 3 bay leaves
- 6 garlic cloves, crushed
- 12 juniper berries
- 6 whole cloves
- ½ cup water
- 3 cups Riesling wine
- 3-4 lbs raw sauerkraut, rinsed & drained
- 2 Granny Smith or Empire apples, julienne (matchstick) cut
- 1 lb smoked slab bacon, cut into ¾" thick strips
- 10-12 lb fresh turkey
- kosher salt & pepper for seasoning
- 12-14 strips thinly-sliced bacon
- 6 knackwurst sausages
- 6 bauernwurst sausages
- 16 small new potatoes, peeled
- Dijon mustard for serving
How-to
Cook Onions, Spices & Riesling
- Melt duck fat in an 8-quart pot over medium-high heat
- Add onions, reduce to medium heat and season with salt
- Partially cover the onions and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, 18-20 minutes
- Meanwhile, make a bouquet garni (spice bundle) by wrapping parsley, thyme, bay leaves. garlic, juniper berries and whole cloves in a double layer of cheesecloth; tie ends and set aside
- When onions are softened, add the spice bundle, ½ cup water and 3 cups of Riesling; bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes
Mix Sauerkraut, Apples & Onions
- Combine sauerkraut and apples in a large bowl. Add the cooked onions and mix well. Transfer to roasting pan and spread mixture evenly in the pan
Add Bacon & Turkey & Into the Oven
- Heat oven to 350°
- Distribute sliced slab bacon amongst the onions, sauerkraut and apples. Place turkey atop mixture in roasting pan. Stuff the turkey with about a quarter of the sauerkraut-apple-onion mixture. (Optional - add bouquet garni to turkey cavity as well)
- Season turkey with salt and pepper
- Drape thinly-sliced bacon over top of turkey and legs and secure with toothpicks
- Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and 1-2 sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Crimp foil tightly around edges of pan
- Roast turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into deepest part of thigh reads 160°, about 3 hours. Transfer turkey to a cutting board; let rest for 30 minutes
Cook Sausages & Potatoes
- Meanwhile, bring a 5-quart pot of salted water to a boil. Add sausages, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender, about 5 minutes. (You may need to do the sausages in batches. If so, simmer for about 5 minutes per batch)
- Transfer sausages to a large serving platter. Add potatoes to pot and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer potatoes to platter
Carve Turkey & Assemble the Dish
- Remove bacon and skin from turkey (if desired, crisp these up to serve, or discard)
- Carve the turkey meat, arranging slices on a platter
- Serve with Dijon mustard, sausages, potatoes, and cooked sauerkraut mixture
Wine Pairing: Dr. Konstantin Frank Semi Dry Riesling 2009, from New York's Finger Lakes
Hunter Lewis
Hunter Lewis is the Test Kitchen Director for Saveur magazine. His background as a newspaper reporter in North Carolina led him to an interest in writing about food and making his way to New York City. He started cooking as a line cook in restaurants and then found what he considers the best of both worlds - writing and cooking and celebrating food. And a dream job at Saveur.
Watch hero and friend Hunter Lewis, Test Kitchen Director at Saveur Magazine, throw traditional turkey to the wind with this incredibly moist rendition. Braise your whole turkey in Riesling wine on a bed of slow-cooked onions, slab bacon, apples and sauerkraut. Top off the turkey with strips of bacon for guaranteed extra moisture and smoky flavor. Potatoes and sausages are served along-side with mustard for dipping. Are you still reading or have you already run to the store?
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