Spatchcock Turkey with Sage Brown Butter
Try spatchcocking a turkey this Thanksgiving! Removing the backbone and flattening the turkey out makes for a nice even roast on the bird, and it’s so much quicker! Plus, all of the skin gets nice and crisp. The brown butter adds a nice richness and helps the skin to crisp up. The visual impact adds a fun twist on a classic dinner.Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
1 cup (250 ml) butter
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup (250 ml) sage leaves
1 × 8 lbs (3.5 kg) whole turkey
2 tbsp (30 ml) kosher salt, divided
1 tbsp (15 ml) freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 carrots, cut into 2-in (5 cm) pieces
1 onion, quartered
2 stalks celery, cut into 2-in (5 cm) pieces
4 sprigs thyme, for garnish
GRAVY
3 cups (750 ml) turkey or chicken stock
1 bay leaf
reserved turkey backbone and neck from Spatchcock Turkey
3 tbsp (45 ml) butter
¼ cup (60 ml) all-purpose flour
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter with garlic over medium heat. Continue cooking until butter starts to brown. If garlic browns first, remove and set aside. Once butter has browned, remove from heat and add sage leaves. If garlic was removed, add back to saucepan and set aside while preparing turkey.
- Dry turkey well with paper towels and lay it breast-side down on a large cutting board. Remove neck and giblets and set aside. Using kitchen shears, cut along each side of the backbone to remove it, holding onto the turkey with a clean tea towel or more paper towel so it doesn’t slip while cutting. Once the backbone has been removed, flip turkey over so breast is facing up. Press down hard on breast bone to flatten turkey. Tie legs together with butcher’s twine and tuck wing tips behind breast. Season underside of turkey with 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt and 1½ tsp (7.5 ml) pepper.
- Place carrots, onion and celery on a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet. Lay turkey on top of vegetables skin-side up. Place turkey neck and backbone on baking sheet. Brush turkey with browned butter and season with the remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt and 1½ tsp (7.5 ml) pepper. Set aside while oven heats.
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Roast turkey for about 2 hours, basting with butter every 20 minutes, until thigh meat reaches 165 F (74 C). After 1 hour, rotate turkey and remove neck and backbone to make Gravy. Rest turkey for 20 minutes before carving. Garnish with thyme sprigs and serve with Gravy.
- GRAVY: In a medium saucepan, simmer stock with bay leaf, backbone and neck for 30 minutes. Fine strain and discard bones and bay leaf. In another medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour and mix until no lumps remain and flour turns a very light golden brown. Slowly whisk in stock. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add strained drippings from turkey once it has cooked and rested. Check and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve with turkey. Makes about 3 cups (750 ml)
Drink Pairings
Thai Coconut Noodle Soup with Chicken
Thai cuisine is renowned for its vibrant and complex flavours, and this simple soup is no exception. The star ingredient, red curry paste, brings a fiery kick that is beautifully balanced by the creaminess of the coconut milk. The result is a velvety broth that is both spicy and soothing, a true comfort food that can be whipped up in under 15 minutes.Ingredients
Serves 2
4 cups (1 L) chicken or vegetable stock
1 × 14 oz (400 ml) can coconut milk
2 to 4 tbsp (30 ml to 60 ml) Thai red curry paste, or to taste
½ × 14 oz (400 g) package vermicelli or other rice noodle
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, roasted and sliced
3 green onions, sliced
1 cup (250 ml) bean sprouts
½ cup (125 ml) chopped cilantro
1 lime, cut into wedges, to serve
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, bring chicken stock, coconut milk and curry paste to a boil.
- In a separate stock pot, bring 4 cups (1 L) water to a boil. Cook noodles according to package directions. Remove from water and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Divide noodles evenly between 2 serving bowls.
- Place sliced chicken over noodles and garnish with green onions, bean sprouts and cilantro. Ladle hot curry broth into each bowl over noodles. Serve hot with limes on side.
Drink Pairings
Queen Elizabeth
Mid 1930s the Benedictine liqueur brand held a cocktail contest and the “Queen Elizabeth” was the winning entry by bartender Herbert L. Quick, naming the cocktail not after the monarch but his wife Elizabeth. This complex, herbaceous cocktail is perfectly balanced between tart and sweet, certainly worthy of flavour admiration and only 15% abv.Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Noilly Prat Extra Dry Vermouth
½ oz (15 ml) Bénédictine B&B
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lime juice
1 lime twist, for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe glass in freezer for 5 minutes. In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine dry vermouth, B&B and lime juice. Shake vigorously, then fine strain into chilled coupe glass. Garnish with lime twist.
Featuring
Bates Motel
This chilling cocktail balances suspense and intrigue in a single glass. The base of Irish whiskey is a nod to the Bates family name, while the lemon represents Norman Bates’s enigmatic character. A touch of blood-red grenadine adds a sinister element, reminiscent of the infamous shower scene, and the bitters offer an unexpected psychological twist.Ingredients
Serves 1
1½ oz (45 ml) Bushmills Triple Distilled Irish Whiskey
¼ oz (7.5 ml) Simple Syrup*
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
2 oz (60 ml) soda water
¼ oz (7.5 ml) grenadine
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine Irish whiskey, Simple Syrup and lemon juice. Shake gently, then strain into a Collins glass. Top with soda water and fill with crushed ice. Mix grenadine and bitters in a shot glass and drizzle over crushed ice.
- *1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using.
Featuring
Autumn Sherry Cobbler
The sherry cobbler was one of the most coveted cocktails of the 1800s. Although the original recipe calls for only dry sherry, a little sugar and a slice of orange, it has seen countless variations over the years. This autumnal rendition includes seasonal cranberry and almond to complement the dry sherry in this 5.8 percent ABV cocktail. Dry and complex, it just may become your new favourite low-proof libation. Easy to make at home!Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) González Byass Tio Pepe Palomino Fino Sherry
½ oz (15 ml) orgeat*
½ oz (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
1 oz (30 ml) cranberry juice
¾ oz (22 ml) fresh orange juice
1 orange twist, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine sherry, orgeat, lemon juice, cranberry juice and orange juice. Shake vigorously, then pour entire contents into a double rocks glass (optionally, strain over crushed ice). Garnish with orange twist.
- *Almond syrup, available at specialty stores.
Featuring
Maple Mustard-Glazed Chicken Wings
Chicken wings, as we know them today, are believed to have originated in Buffalo, New York, hence the name “Buffalo wings.” Today, many different varieties exist. Here is a Canadian take on a classic with a sweet and savoury flavour combination to bust out the next time friends are over!Ingredients
Serves 5 to 8
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup (60 ml) Dijon mustard
¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
1 tbsp (15 ml) red wine vinegar
15 to 20 chicken wings
1 tbsp (15 ml) all-purpose flour
1 tbsp (15 ml) cornstarch
salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F (220 C).
- In a small saucepan on medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic, Dijon mustard, maple syrup and vinegar. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 to 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- In a large zip-lock bag, add chicken wings. Add flour and cornstarch, then season with salt and pepper. Close bag and shake to coat.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place chicken wings evenly. Spray with a light layer of cooking oil and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and lightly crispy.
- Remove from oven and place in a large mixing bowl. Pour glaze over wings and toss to coat. Return wings to baking sheet and cook for an additional 8 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy.
Drink Pairings
Butter-Washed Blackberry Tea
A take on the classic Blueberry Tea cocktail. Disaronno Originale Amaretto, Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge and Marquis De Villard VSOP Brandy come together. The use of the fat-washing technique gives this cocktail a richer texture and a silky mouthfeel. A must try!Ingredients
Serves 1
granulated sugar, to rim glass
1 English breakfast tea bag
2 blackberries
2 oz (60 ml) Butter-Wash Blend*
1 orange slice, to garnish
Instructions
- Heat a snifter glass with hot water and rim with sugar. Steep a cup of English breakfast tea with 2 blackberries. Add Butter-Wash Blend to snifter glass and top with steeped hot tea. Garnish with orange slice.
- *To make Butter-Wash Blend, melt ⅔ cup (160 ml) unsalted butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add peels from 2 large oranges and sauté lightly to extract oils. Slowly add 1 cup (250 ml) each Disaronno Originale Amaretto, Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge and Marquis De Villard VSOP Brandy and mix thoroughly. Remove from heat and transfer to a heat-safe container. Allow to stew at least 2 hours. Once cooled to room temperature, place in freezer to allow solids to harden, then strain through a coffee filter until desired clarity is reached. Will keep in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Makes enough for about 12 cocktails.
Featuring
Wine-Glazed Carrots
This lovely and earthy side dish is a great accompaniment to the wine roast chicken. Dry toasting and grinding your own cumin seeds brings out the cumin’s flavour profile and intensity even more. In fact, toasting and grinding whole spices at home instead of purchasing pre-ground spices may extend their shelf life as they retain a better flavour when stored whole. Use your favourite BC wine to glaze these delectable carrots.Ingredients
Serves 6
1 tsp (5 ml) cumin seeds
¾ cup (180 ml) white wine, divided
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup or liquid clover honey
¼ tsp (1 ml) red pepper chili flakes (optional)
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 lb (450 g) slender rainbow carrots, scrubbed and tops trimmed to about 1-in (2.5 cm)
2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C).
- In a large ovenproof frying pan, toast cumin seeds over medium heat until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove frying pan from heat and transfer toasted seeds to a mortar and pestle. Grind or pound until coarse. Alternatively, crush seeds on a cutting board using a heavy saucepan.
- In same large frying pan removed from heat, whisk together ½ cup (125 mL) wine, oil, maple syrup, red pepper chili flakes, ground cumin and a good pinch each salt and pepper. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, remove frying pan from heat, add carrots and toss well to coat with wine mixture. Cover frying pan with a lid or seal with foil before transferring to oven to roast until carrots are just starting to become tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove lid or foil, gently toss carrots and continue to roast in oven until carrots are tender, another 10 to 15 minutes.
- Using an oven mitt or tea towel, remove frying pan from oven. Transfer carrots to a serving platter and keep warm. Still using oven mitt or tea towel to hold pan’s handle, add remaining ¼ cup (60 ml) wine to pan and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to scrape any browned bits from bottom of pan. Boil, stirring often, until liquid has reduced by at least half and is slightly syrupy, about 3 minutes.
- To serve, drizzle reduced cooking liquid over carrots. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm or at room temperature.
Drink Pairings
Averna Collins
Averna Amaro Siciliano is an Italian bitter liqueur (29% ABV) with hints of orange and licorice and notes of myrtle, juniper, rosemary and sage, among other botanicals. Combining these rich and bittersweet flavours with soda, lemon and simple syrup results in a delightfully fresh yet savoury Collins, topping out at 7 percent ABV.Ingredients
Serves 1
2 oz (60 ml) Averna Amaro Siciliano
1 oz (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
½ oz (15 ml) Simple Syrup*
2 oz (60 ml) soda water
1 lemon wheel, for garnish
1 sprig of thyme, rosemary or sage, for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker with cubed ice, combine Averna, lemon juice and Simple Syrup. Shake, then strain into a Collins glass. Top with soda water and fill with cubed ice. Garnish with lemon wheel and thyme, rosemary or sage.
- *1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Allow to cool before using.
Featuring
Roast Chicken with Wine, Walnut & Goat’s Cheese Stuffing
Celebrate the BC wine harvest with this vineyard-inspired dinner. Prepare a classic roast chicken filled with traditional bread stuffing flavoured with herbs, goat cheese and toasted walnuts. Heighten the sauce by using a full-bodied BC white wine to seamlessly compliment the stuffing. Try pairing with Wine Glazed Carrots recipe.Ingredients
Serves 6
4 slices white bread, cut into ½-in (1.25 cm) cubes
¾ cup (180 ml) walnut halves
8 oz (225 g) goat’s cheese, crumbled
2 tbsp (30 ml) liquid clover honey
2 tsp (10 ml) fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tsp (10 ml) fresh thyme, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
2½ cups (625 ml) white wine, divided
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 × 3 lbs (1.4 kg) whole chicken
1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter, melted1 tbsp (15 ml) unsalted butter, melted
1 tbsp (15 ml) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3 tbsp (45 ml) all-purpose flour
1 cup (250 ml) no-salt-added chicken stock
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C). Line a roasting pan with foil and set a rack in pan.
- To make stuffing, place bread and walnuts on a baking sheet in one layer and toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until bread is lightly browned and walnuts are fragrant, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together goat’s cheese, honey, rosemary, thyme, garlic, olive oil, ½ cup (125 ml) white wine, toasted bread and walnuts. Taste and season mixture with a good sprinkle of salt and pepper. Set stuffing aside.
- Remove chicken giblets, if any, and save for another use. Rinse chicken inside and out. Pat outside dry with paper towel. Using your fingers or a brush, rub skin of chicken with melted butter. Tuck pieces of cold butter under skin. Sprinkle chicken generously with salt and pepper inside and out. Loosely spoon stuffing into cavity of chicken before securing loose skin together with toothpicks or twine. Alternatively, cover cavity with a piece of foil or a slice of bread. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body.
- Place chicken, breast-side up, on rack in prepared roasting pan. Roast, basting several times with pan juices, for 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. Chicken is done when internal temperature in thickest part of thigh reads 165 F (74 C). Stuffing should be at the same temperature reading. Once cooked thoroughly, remove from oven and let rest for about 15 minutes on rack.
- To make a gravy, skim off fat from pan drippings and reserve fat. Add 3 tbsp (45 ml) reserved fat to a large skillet or frying pan and warm over medium heat, reserving remaining drippings. Whisk flour into fat, making a roux. Cook, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in reserved drippings, remaining 2 cups (500 ml) of wine and chicken stock. Continue cooking gravy, stirring constantly, until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- To serve, scoop stuffing out of chicken and then carve chicken. Divide chicken and stuffing between serving plates and serve with gravy and Wine-Glazed Carrots.