Most of us cherish the food we ate as children. When I was a little girl, I loved eating chicken necks, despite them not having much meat. As an adult, I learned that turkey necks have a similar flavor and more meat!
Some of you might think I am crazy for cooking with turkey necks, but I am certain that this recipe will change your mind. Growing up in Ukraine, I was taught that every part of the animal has its place on the dinner table. When prepared properly, turkey necks are a wonderful, fall-off-the-bone comfort food!
Seared and then roasted in the oven, these turkey necks are perfect to indulge in on a cold winter day. The neck is the best part of the bird, so underrated and underutilized in cooking! Prepare some mashed potatoes or white rice to accompany the necks, or eat them fresh out of the oven all on their own.
The turkey neck is an often overlooked part of the bird that has a lot of meat and intense flavor. If you are wondering what to do with turkey neck besides tossing it read on for 9 delicious ways to transform this underappreciated cut into culinary gold.
1. Make Classic Braised Turkey Necks
One of the easiest ways to prepare turkey necks is to braise them low and slow in the oven. Simply sear the necks in a skillet to caramelize them, then transfer to a baking dish with veggies like carrots and onions. Add a bit of liquid like broth or water, cover, and bake at 350F for 1-2 hours until tender. The meat will become fall-off-the-bone tender and infuse the broth with rich flavor. Serve the braised necks and veggies over mashed potatoes or rice.
2. Enjoy Southern Smothered Smoked Turkey Necks
For a savory Southern take, look for pre-smoked turkey necks at your local butcher or smoke them yourself. Place the smoked necks in a skillet and smother them with sautéed onions garlic, bell peppers, a splash of vinegar and spices like cayenne and paprika. Simmer until the veggies are tender and the sauce has thickened. Serve over grits or rice.
3. Simmer Turkey Neck Soup
Another easy and comforting dish is turkey neck soup. Simply place the necks in a pot with aromatics like onions, carrots, and celery. Add broth, tomatoes, and herbs and simmer until the meat is fall-apart tender. Shred the meat off the bones and add back to the soup with pasta or rice. The neck meat adds rich body and flavor.
4. Use for Smoky, Meaty Chili
For a hearty chili, brown some ground turkey or beef along with the chopped turkey necks. Add to a pot along with tomato sauce, beans, onions, peppers, chili powder, cumin, and chipotle peppers. Simmer until thick and flavorful. The necks add a smoky, meaty depth to this satisfying chili.
5. Toss with Cajun Gumbo
In Cajun cooking, gumbos frequently contain turkey necks for their strong flavor. Make a dark roux with oil and flour, then add the necks, sausage, shrimp, okra, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and Cajun seasoning. Simmer until thickened. The neck meat will make the gumbo rich and meaty. Serve over rice.
6. Make Delicious Gravy
One of the best uses for turkey necks is making gravy. Add the necks to your roasted turkey pan drippings along with some broth. Simmer to dissolve any browned bits on the pan and infuse with flavor. Remove the necks and whisk in a flour slurry to thicken. Strain the gravy and serve over your Thanksgiving turkey and side dishes.
7. Use for Smoky, Meaty Stocks
Cook turkey necks low and slow in water or broth to extract their smoky, savory flavor. Use this enriched stock as the base for soups, stews, gravy, or risotto for incredible depth of flavor. You can also add veggies, herbs, and seasonings to make the stock even tastier. Freeze any extra stock for later use.
8. Make Delicious Cornbread Dressing
For Thanksgiving-style cornbread dressing, add some browned, chopped turkey necks along with onions, celery, sage, and broth to your cornbread base. The necks provide fantastic flavor and moisture. Bake until set and golden brown. Your dressing will have everyone begging for seconds!
9. Enjoy Jamaican Brown Stew Turkey Necks
In Jamaican cooking, turkey necks shine in brown stew. Season the necks with curry powder, allspice, scotch bonnet peppers, and garlic. Simmer in coconut milk along with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and scallions until tender. The neck meat soaks up all the delicious flavors. Serve over rice and beans for a taste of the islands.
As you can see, turkey necks are endlessly versatile. With a bit of creativity, you can transform the underrated neck into anything from soups and stews to gravy and dressing. Braising, simmering low and slow, or using for smoky flavor in stock are all great preparation methods. So next time you roast a turkey or find necks at the store, don’t toss the neck – use it to make something delicious instead! Which recipe will you try first?
How to Make Turkey Necks
You may be feeling a bit intimidated to take on cooking turkey necks. Don’t fret! It’s super easy and very similar to roasting any other type of meat.
First, you will brown the turkey necks on a hot skillet. Then, you will place the browned necks in a cast iron skillet with some fresh carrots and onions and bake them for about one and a half hours. When you pull your turkey necks out of the oven, the meat will fall off the bone and become extremely tender.
Keeping Turkey Necks Tender
The key to keeping turkey necks tender is to add a cup of hot water to your cast iron skillet (or any oven-safe skillet) before you place it in the oven. Creating a slow boil in the oven will ensure that your turkey necks do not become rubbery and burn. The added liquid will also create a yummy gravy!
Delicious Smothered Turkey Necks!
FAQ
Can anything be done about a turkey neck?
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