Alfred Portales Christmas Turkey Sandwich Recipes

Steps:

• Remove turkey and butter from the refrigerator an hour or so before cooking, so that they are approaching room temperature when the turkey goes into the oven.
• Heat oven to 400. Rub turkey with butter, using your fingers to slide butter under the skin. Season the turkey with salt, pepper, sage and lemon zest.
• Place turkey thighs, skin-side down, into a cast-iron skillet or medium-size oven-safe gratin pan, and roast in the oven for 30 minutes. Turn turkey thighs over, add the wine to the pan or skillet and continue roasting for another 30 minutes or so, basting occasionally, until the turkey is cooked through, golden and crisp, and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the turkey's thickest part reads in the neighborhood of 165 degrees. Remove turkey thighs from the pan, and allow to rest on a cutting board while you make the gravy.
• Heat the stock in a small pot. Drain off all but four tablespoons of the fat in the pan or gratin dish. Place pan or dish over low heat on the stove, and whisk the flour into it to make a roux. Stir the roux for 3 to 4 minutes, and then slowly start to add the stock to it, whisking as you do, until the mixture is smooth. Cook, continuing to stir, until the gravy has thickened, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Add the cream, milk or half-and-half, stir and allow the gravy to thicken again, 2 to 3 minutes more. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• To make the sandwiches, carve meat and skin from the turkey thighs, and assemble two separate piles. Toast the bread, and lay one slice on each plate. Put a pile of the meat on each piece of toast, spreading it across the surface of the bread. Absolutely drench each sandwich with the gravy, and serve alongside buttered peas, mashed potatoes and a dollop of cranberry sauce. For this application, canned cranberry sauce is, by etiquette, required.

Steps:

• Whisk the vinegar and olive oil together in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Slice the focaccia into 4 equal pieces; then slice each piece horizontally for sandwiches. Spread some of the Dijon mustard on the cut side of the bottom half of each focaccia. Top bread evenly with turkey, peppers, and season with salt and pepper. Add mozzarella and baby greens, and drizzle the balsamic dressing on top. Smear the top half of each focaccia with Key Lime Garlic Mayonnaise, and place on top of greens to finish sandwich. Brush the tops and bottoms of each sandwich with olive oil.
• Heat a sandwich press, or use cast iron pans and aluminum foil covered bricks to press sandwiches. Cook the sandwiches, in batches if needed, until the cheese melts and the bread is toasted. Serve.
• This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.
• Special Equipment: deep heavy-bottomed pot for frying turkey
• Process the garlic, herbs, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until coarsely ground. Rub mixture generously over turkey breast. Roll the turkey breast into a compact shape by turning the smaller end of the breast under. Wrap tightly in 3 layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• Fill a deep heavy-bottomed pot 2/3's full with oil. Heat over medium-high until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350 degrees F. Fry the turkey breast, wrapped in the foil, for 35 minutes or 12 minutes per pound. Carefully remove turkey from oil and set aside, wrapped in the foil, to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate turkey until firm enough to thinly slice, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Pulse the egg, mustard, garlic and lime juice in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. With the machine running, add the oil in a steady stream until the mixture is pale in color and thick. Transfer mayonnaise to a bowl, stir in zest, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat; saute onion and celery until tender, 4-6 minutes. Stir in flour until blended; cook and stir until golden brown. Gradually stir in stock and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened, 4-6 minutes., Add cream cheese, peas, turkey, salt and pepper; cook and stir until blended and heated through. Serve over toast. If desired, top with tomato and parsley.

Steps:

• Spread cream cheese on two slices of bread. Layer cheese, turkey and spinach over cream cheese; top with remaining bread. Spread butter on top and bottom of sandwiches. Cook on both sides on a hot griddle or skillet until the bread is browned and cheese is melted. Serve immediately.