Which Top Chef are you Following for Turkey Perfection?
As turkey starts to look more appealing to us, it’s about time to think about how to cook it!
Succulent is not really a word that you associate with turkey, it’s famously dry meat, but we endevour to change that every year. In a kitchen far far away, Mary and Jamie were showing us how to rock a perfect turkey. In another kitchen, Nigella has us bringing gifts of spices and water to bathe our bird in, while Delia has us equally covered!
Nigella Lawson
Currently oozing on to our screens on Monday evenings with her Nigella’s Christmas Table offerings, I’ve never felt more compelled to devil an egg in my life. Nigella is the queen of hosting, cooking up treats and enjoying what’s put in front of you! How could you not go to all the palava of lugging a bucket of water into your garden in the cold?
Nigella is a fan of a spiced, brine soaked bird, and encourages you to make use of a large bucket and 6 litres of spiced water.
The reason for the brine is to tenderise the meat. She suggests leaving it at least overnight, or for a few days if you can.
Full recipe and method here! Let us know if you try it.
Mary Berry
The Nation’s favourite grandmother has been cooking turkey since Delia was in nappies, so there’s really no-one more qualified to give advice. Besides, if anyone could entice me to put my hand under the skin of a turkey, then it’s Mary Berry.
Mary plays safe when cooking turkey, it’s thermometers aplenty in her kitchen, well one at least.
She’s also a fan of smearing butter onto the meat of the bird, and adding in lemon slices and sprig of thyme, but only if you have time. It’s a stress free Christmas at Mary’s.
Jamie Oliver
Our favourite cheeky chap, Jamie, the unofficial Prince of Patter, gets us in the mood for a family Christmas with lashings of olive oil. But really, would it be Jamie Oliver without olive oil making an appearance? We think not.
Jamie opts for the notion of placing your stuffing under the skin of the turkey, surrounding the breast meat. He goes further than that and gets us to warm an orange and pop it in the cavity. Does it work? You tell us! We’d LOVE to know!
Delia Smith
Have we saved the best until last? You tell us! Delia certainly encourages us to relax and try and enjoy the somewhat traumatic experience of cooking a turkey for our extended family.
She also encourages us to take the turkey out of the fridge last thing on Christmas Eve, so the bird is at room temperature for cooking the next day.
Delia believes in getting the temperature right from the beginning to make sure the turkey is cooked to perfection. We like turkey cooked to perfection! Yum!
So, whatever version, or whoever you choose to follow, we hope you enjoy your Christmas dinner, Merry Christmas!
