General Tso's Whole Turkey

General Tso's Whole Turkey

A Chinese take on the holiday roast turkey. The sauce is a sweet and spicy flavorful glaze
on the crispy skin of the turkey with a hint of orange and cranberry. The whole red peppers
with green onions on the side add a festive touch. The dressing is a savory rice dressing with cranberries and nuts. Sure to become a year-round favorite. Garnish with whole dried red peppers and green onions along the side.

Prep Time:
60 mins
Cook Time:
3 hrs 30 mins
Additional Time:
8 hrs
Total Time:
12 hrs 30 mins
Yield:
1 whole turkey
Servings:
15

Ingredients

Basting Oil

  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup sesame oil

Dressing

  • 2 cups cooked white rice
  • ½ cup cooked wild rice
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 small green onions, chopped
  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Marinade/Glaze

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 small dried red chiles, or more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • ¼ cup light sesame oil
  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • ½ (16 ounce) can whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup turkey broth
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • ¼ cup white vinegar
  • ¼ cup plum wine
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger root
  • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
  • 1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

Step 1
Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Toast dried red chiles in the hot oil until they turn dark red, about 2 minutes. Toss black pepper, 2 chopped green onions, light sesame oil, and 1 small chopped shallot into the hot oil; remove from heat.

Step 2
Blend cranberry sauce, turkey broth, soy sauce, orange juice, white vinegar, plum wine, ginger, garlic, and orange zest in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl. Stir toasted red pepper mixture into glaze. Divide glaze in half.

Step 3
Place turkey into a large basting bag and pour half the glaze over the turkey and into the cavity. Seal the bag and refrigerate turkey overnight.

Step 4
Dissolve cornstarch in the remaining half of the glaze and refrigerate in a covered container.

Step 5
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 6
Remove turkey from marinade; discard the used marinade. Set turkey onto a rack inside a roasting pan.

Step 7
Mix white rice, wild rice, dried cranberries, walnuts, 2 small chopped green onions, 1 chopped shallot, and 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a bowl. Lightly stuff the turkey cavity with the rice mixture. Combine 1/3 cup vegetable oil with 1/3 cup sesame oil in a bowl and set aside.

Step 8
Roast turkey in the preheated oven, basting with vegetable and sesame oil mixture every 15 minutes, until skin is browned and crisp, about 2 hours. Stir reserved glaze containing cornstarch thoroughly and baste turkey every 15 minutes until glaze has baked onto turkey and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), 1 1/2 to 2 more hours.

Cook’s Notes:

This recipe also lends itself well to whole chicken.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

802
Calories
44g
Fat
23g
Carbs
75g
Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 15
Calories 802
% Daily Value *
Total Fat44g 56%
Saturated Fat10g 51%
Cholesterol212mg 71%
Sodium685mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate23g 8%
Dietary Fiber1g 4%
Total Sugars10g
Protein75g
Vitamin C5mg 24%
Calcium81mg 6%
Iron5mg 29%
Potassium811mg 17%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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