A turkey buffe (often called ‘buffet’ in poultry shops) is turkey on the bone with the drumsticks removed. It’s much easier to cook evenly than a whole bird. The turkey is first brined to add moisture and flavour, and its skin given some butter-loving before being stuffed with festive tri-coloured quinoa.
This recipe is from the Christmas chapter of my Entertaining cookbook. Do you have it yet? If you use Cookidoo, you can send this recipe straight to your TM5! See more Christmas planning tips.
Serves: 12
Time: 6 hours 20 minutes (active time 40 minutes)
Ingredients
Turkey
- 300 grams (10.6 oz) rock salt
- 50 grams (1.8 oz) raw sugar
- 3 kg (6.6 lb) water, plus extra if needed
- 2 juniper berries
- 6 black peppercorns
- 1 cinnamon quill
- 2 fresh or dried bay leaves
- 3.4–4 kg (7.5-8.8 lb) turkey buffe, frame only, wings and legs removed
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Stuffing
- 200 grams (7 oz) tri-colour quinoa
- 850 grams (30 oz) water, plus extra for soaking quinoa
- ½ tsp salt, plus extra to taste
- 1 red onion, cut into halves
- 2 garlic cloves
- 8 sprigs fresh basil, leaves only
- 6 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves only
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
- 4 sprigs fresh dill, leaves only
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 100 grams (3.7 oz) dried cranberries, plus extra for garnishing
- 12 fresh chives, finely sliced
- 80 grams (3 oz) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Thermomix Method
Turkey
1. Place a bowl onto mixing bowl lid and weigh salt and sugar into it. Transfer into a pot large enough to contain turkey (ensure pot can fit into your refrigerator). Place water, juniper berries, black peppercorns, cinnamon and bay leaves into pot and place over high heat for 3-5 minutes, until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. Once cooled, submerge turkey, topping up with cold water to cover if necessary. Place a plate on top of turkey to keep it submerged under water and transfer into refrigerator for 2 hours.
3. Remove turkey from brine, rinse well inside and out, then transfer onto a plate. Pat dry with paper towel and transfer into refrigerator, uncovered for a minimum of 2 hours (up to 24 hours) to completely dry out.
4. Cut butter into thin pieces and carefully place under the breast skin of the bird, pulling the skin away from the meat gently but firmly. Stand, uncovered, and bring to room temperature.
Stuffing
5. Place simmering basket onto mixing bowl lid and weigh quinoa into it. Rest simmering basket in a large bowl. Cover quinoa with water and allow to soak for 5 minutes. Rinse under running water until water runs clear.
6. Place 600 grams (21 oz) of the water and a pinch of extra salt into mixing bowl. Insert simmering basket with quinoa into mixing bowl and cook
15 min/Varoma/speed 1. Remove simmering basket with aid of spatula and set quinoa aside (quinoa will not be completely cooked). Discard water, then rinse and dry mixing bowl.
7. Place onion, garlic, basil, parsley, thyme, dill, salt and pepper into mixing bowl and chop 5 sec/speed 5.
8. Add reserved quinoa, cranberries, half of the chives and 40 grams (1.5 oz) of the butter and combine 10 sec/Rev/speed 3. Adjust seasoning, if desired.
9. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Stuff brined turkey with quinoa mixture. Place turkey into a deep-sided roasting dish (32 x 23 cm / 13 x 9 in) on a roasting rack, breast side down. Place remaining 250 grams water (1 cup) in the bottom of the tray. Gently place a sheet of aluminium foil over exposed quinoa in turkey cavity. Transfer any remaining quinoa mixture around turkey and cook for 45 minutes (180°C / 350°F).
10. Rotate turkey to breast side up. Baste breasts with remaining 40 grams butter (1.5 oz). Add extra water to roasting dish if needed and bake for 45-60 minutes (180°C / 350°F), until turkey is cooked, checking water levels every 20 minutes. To check turkey is cooked, pierce the thickest part of the breast with a skewer; turkey is fully cooked when juices run clear. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes, loosely covered with aluminium foil. Slice turkey, garnish with remaining chives and extra cranberries, and serve with quinoa.
Traditional Method
Turkey
1. Place salt, sugar, water, juniper berries, black peppercorns, cinnamon and bay leaves into a pot that is large enough to contain turkey (ensure pot can fit into your refrigerator too). Place over high heat for 3-5 minutes, until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
2. Once cooled, submerge turkey, topping up with cold water to cover if necessary. Place a plate on top of turkey to keep it submerged under water and transfer into refrigerator for 2 hours.
3. Remove turkey from brine, rinse well inside and out, then transfer onto a plate. Pat dry with paper towel and transfer into refrigerator, uncovered for a minimum of 2 hours (up to 24 hours) to completely dry out.
4. Cut butter into thin pieces and carefully place under the breast skin of the bird, pulling the skin away from the meat gently but firmly. Stand, uncovered, and bring to room temperature.
Stuffing
5. Cover quinoa with water and allow to soak for at least 5 minutes. Rinse under running water until water runs clear.
6. Cook quinoa in a medium pot in salted water until almost tender. It should not be quite cooked. Strain and set aside.
7. Finely chop onion, garlic, basil, parsley, thyme and dill and mix with salt and pepper.
8. Add reserved quinoa, cranberries, half of the chives and 40 grams (1.5 oz) of the butter and combine. Adjust seasoning, if desired.
9. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Stuff brined turkey with quinoa mixture. Place turkey into a deep-sided roasting dish (32 x 23 cm / 13 x 9 in) on a roasting rack, breast side down. Place remaining 250 grams water (1 cup) in the bottom of the tray. Gently place a sheet of aluminium foil over exposed quinoa in turkey cavity. Transfer any remaining quinoa mixture around turkey and cook for 45 minutes (180°C / 350°F).
10. Rotate turkey to breast side up. Baste breasts with remaining 40 grams butter (1.5 oz). Add extra water to roasting dish if needed and bake for 45-60 minutes (180°C / 350°F), until turkey is cooked, checking water levels every 20 minutes. To check turkey is cooked, pierce the thickest part of the breast with a skewer; turkey is fully cooked when juices run clear. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 10-15 minutes, loosely covered with aluminium foil. Slice turkey, garnish with remaining chives and extra cranberries, and serve with quinoa.
Tips
More about this recipe
- Head over to my Christmas Hub for planning suggestions, styling tips, music playlists and more.
- Make my Christmas glazed ham.
- This Prawn and Potato Salad with Horseradish Cream is a magnificent Christmas dish.
- Wondering about gifts? How about making delicious edible presents? Here’s my guide.
Want even more delicious and inspiring poultry recipes? Take a look over here.
