Southwest Turkey Melt Recipes

Steps:

• The day before roasting, prepare the rub: Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey; refrigerate until you make the gravy. Pat the turkey very dry with paper towels. Whisk 2 tablespoons salt, the brown sugar, chile powder, 2 teaspoons paprika, the cumin, coriander and onion powder in a small bowl. Spread about one-quarter of the rub inside the cavity of the turkey and spread the rest all over the skin. Set the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan and refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.
• The next day, let the turkey let sit at room temperature, 30 minutes. Position an oven rack in the lowest position (remove the other racks); preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Pour or wipe out any juices that have collected in the bottom of the roasting pan. Stuff the turkey cavity with the onion, carrot, celery and thyme sprigs. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat; whisk in the chopped thyme and the remaining 1 teaspoon paprika. Let cool slightly, then brush all over the turkey. Transfer to the oven and roast 1 hour. Meanwhile, make the Classic Gravy, adding the heavy cream and chipotle and sauce with the stock in step 2.
• After the turkey has roasted 1 hour, baste it with the drippings. Continue roasting, basting every 30 minutes, until the skin is dark golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 2 more hours.
• Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before carving; reserve the drippings for the gravy. Stir the vinegar into the finished gravy.
• Prepare the stock: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the turkey neck and giblets; cook, turning, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrot, celery, thyme and bay leaves; stir to coat. Add the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the broth, reduce the heat to low and simmer about 1 hour. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup; reserve the saucepan. You should have 7 cups stock-if you're short, add more broth.
• Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter in the reserved saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth and bubbling, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the 7 cups stock; bring to a simmer and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Set aside until the turkey is done.
• Pour the turkey pan drippings into a fat separator and let stand until the fat rises to the top. Discard the fat (or drizzle on your stuffing). Whisk the defatted drippings into the gravy; season with salt and pepper. Reheat before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Spread dressing evenly onto bread slices; sprinkle with chili powder.
• Top with salsa, turkey and cheese.
• Broil, 4 to 6 inches from heat source, 2 min. or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onions in 1 tablespoon of butter until tender; remove and set aside.
• Spread barbecue sauce on four slices of bread.
• Layer each with one slice of cheese, 2 slices of Canadian bacon and turkey, pickles, onions, and top of with another slice of cheese.
• Cover with remaining slices of bread.
• In the same skillet over medium-low heat, melt remaining butter as needed.
• Cook sandwiches on both sides until golden brown and cheese is melted.

Steps:

• Spread mayonnaise over two slices of bread. Layer with green chiles, turkey and cheese. Top with remaining bread. Spread outsides of sandwiches with butter., In a large skillet, toast sandwiches over medium heat until golden brown and cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes on each side.

Steps:

• In small bowl, combine the salsa, mayo, and green onions; mix well.
• Evenly divide the turkey over 4 slices of bread, then place a slice of cheese over each.
• Spread salsa mixture evenly over the cheese, then distribute sliced jalapeno peppers over the salsa mixture; top with remaining bread.
• In a large skillet, melt 2 T butter over low heat.
• Place the sandwiches in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Add more butter if needed, turn the sandwiches over and cook another 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• For the turkey patties: In a large bowl, combine the turkey, ricotta, sage, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Divide into 4 equal patties and press them into 1/4-inch-thin rounds.
• Heat a cast-iron griddle pan to medium-high heat.
• Add the canola oil and sear the patties on the first side until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until cooked through.
• For the sandwich build: Place a slice of Swiss cheese on each piece of bread, then a turkey burger, followed by about 1/4 cup Caramelized Onions. Place the top piece of bread on and then butter each side of the sandwich.
• Griddle each side over medium heat until golden, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. If you have a metal bowl, cover the sandwiches so they steam a bit and the cheese will melt faster. Serve with good ol' yellow mustard if you like and a big pile of oven fries.
• Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the butter and olive oil, let the butter mel,t and then add in the onions and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then cover the pot and lower the heat to medium-low.
• Let the onions sweat, steam and soften for 10 to 15 minutes. Uncover the pan and let the onions cook for about an hour, checking on the onions frequently and stirring.
• Once the onions are fully caramelized, and a deep golden color, add the sherry and scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the thyme, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onion, season with some salt and pepper, and cook until golden, about 7 minutes.
• Put in a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the skillet and add another tablespoon of oil.
• Season the turkey patties with salt and pepper, and cook in the remaining oil until well browned, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet. Wipe out the pan.
• Divide the onions among 4 bread slices, and top with a slice of cheese, a patty, another slice of cheese, and a slice of bread.
• Spread the top and bottom of the sandwiches with some butter.
• Heat the cast iron skillet over medium heat.
• Cook the sandwiches, in batches if needed, turning once, until lightly browned and the cheese melts, about 2 minutes per side.
• Halve the sandwiches and serve with cranberry sauce, if desired.

Steps:

• In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, saute onions in 1 tablespoon butter until tender; remove and set aside. Spread barbecue sauce on 4 slices of bread. Layer each with 1 slice of cheese, 2 slices each of bacon and turkey, pickle slices, onions and another slice of cheese. Cover with remaining slices of bread. , In the same skillet over medium-low heat, melt remaining butter. Cook sandwiches on both sides until golden brown and cheese is melted. Cover the skillet during the last few minutes to help melt cheese if necessary.