TURKEY LEG
WITH CRANBERRY GRAVY
By Simbooker on the 30th October 2019
Files & Tags: recipes, index, chicken, plantains and fruits,holiday
This is an easy no fuss Holiday dinner, that saves money and time in the kitchen. Instead of fussing over a huge dry bird, I buy moist juicy Turkey legs, cheaper than the breast and so much tastier.
Lots of people think that Turkey drumsticks are Turkey legs, but real Turkey legs comprise of the drumstick attached to the thigh, just like in a chicken leg.
Depending on the size of the legs which can range from big to small, it should take at least 1 and a half hours to bake in the oven. This delightful holiday dish would be incomplete without this cranberry gravy. Potatoes of almost any kind or European potato or bread dumplings are all perfect choices for side dishes to serve with this Turkey leg.
TURKEY LEG RECIPE
WITH CRANBERRY GRAVY
BAKED TURKEY LEGS RECIPE
Note: I bought 2 turkey legs for this recipe, but only serve 1 turkey leg per serving. As I mentioned before potatoes of almost any kind go well with this dish, including mash potatoes or European potato or bread dumplings. You can use other legs of poultry such as chicken legs or duck legs.
Preheat Oven to 180C
You will need 1 stick of slightly melted butter, salt & pepper, 4 springs of fresh thyme, 1 whole garlic bulb sliced in half, 1 small onion cut up
Make sure the legs are clean and pat dry. Place the legs in a baking tray. Then rub the butter all over the legs then salt and pepper each side. Lay the legs skin side up in the tray and place the thyme in between the legs along with the garlic and onion. Pour a very small amount of water or wine at the bottom of the tray, this liquid should not cover the legs or even reach halfway, the liquid only needs to be a small amount to cover the surface of the tray and to catch the drippings. Cover the baking tray with foil and bake for 40 minutes covered. Then remove the foil and bake for another 50-60 minutes. You may need to add a little more liquid to the bottom of the tray during this time.
Preheat Oven to 180C
You will need 1 stick of slightly melted butter, salt & pepper, 4 springs of fresh thyme, 1 whole garlic bulb sliced in half, 1 small onion cut up
Make sure the legs are clean and pat dry. Place the legs in a baking tray. Then rub the butter all over the legs then salt and pepper each side. Lay the legs skin side up in the tray and place the thyme in between the legs along with the garlic and onion. Pour a very small amount of water or wine at the bottom of the tray, this liquid should not cover the legs or even reach halfway, the liquid only needs to be a small amount to cover the surface of the tray and to catch the drippings. Cover the baking tray with foil and bake for 40 minutes covered. Then remove the foil and bake for another 50-60 minutes. You may need to add a little more liquid to the bottom of the tray during this time.
THE CRANBERRY GRAVY
You will need 3 cups of water, 1 chicken stock cube (telma), 1 cup of red wine-or for more flavor 1 + 1/2 cups red wine, 1 cup of good quality store bought cranberry sauce, few dashes of light soy sauce or W sauce, salt & pepper to your taste-only if you think the gravy needs it. 1 onion sliced,
1 garlic bulb sliced, 4 tbs of caster sugar or more if you think it needs more sugar. See Directions for gravy below.
1 garlic bulb sliced, 4 tbs of caster sugar or more if you think it needs more sugar. See Directions for gravy below.
GRAVY DIRECTIONS
Note: The making of this gravy can be done ahead of time and you just need to add the drippings from the Turkey leg, simmer for a few minutes and stir. In a large pot bring the water to a boil and add the stock cube. Also add the onion and garlic, boil on medium high heat until the stock cube melts and the onion and garlic have softened. This should take about 40 minutes. Then strain this liquid through a colander held over a mixing bowl, and pour this liquid back into the same pot. Bring to a boil once again and add the wine, the cranberry sauce, the sugar, the drippings from the Turkey leg, a few dashes of soy sauce. Boil on medium/high heat and reduce the sauce to a desirable consistency. Add salt or pepper to your taste only if you think the gravy needs it. Pour this gravy over the Turkey leg.