INGREDIENTS:
- 1 (16-pound) turkey
- 3 gallons peanut oil
- 8 ounces Wishbone Italian Dressing
- Hot sauce to taste
- Worcestershire sauce to taste
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Cayenne pepper to taste
- Onion powder to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
- Celery salt to taste
METHOD:
Most hardware stores in Louisiana will carry a special pot for deep-frying
turkeys. This pot not only enables you to use less oil, approximately
three gallons, but includes an apparatus specially designed for
standing the turkey on end and lifting it out of the pot. There
is a company here in Louisiana that produces a fried turkey seasoning
blend and markets it under the trade name "Cajun Injector."
This product, designed by Reece Williams, includes all the necessary
flavoring ingredients and the injector as well. I have found it
to be an excellent choice when deep-frying turkeys. They have made
the work of injecting spices into the breasts and thighs of the
turkey quite easy. Ask your grocer for this device by name. Should
you wish to make your own, just follow this recipe. In a turkey
frying pot, heat oil over a propane burner outdoors. Using a candy
thermometer, preheat oil to 350 F. In a blender or food processor,
combine all seasoning ingredients with Italian dressing and one
half cup water. Blend 2-3 minutes to break the dried seasonings
into the liquid mixture. Using a poultry injector, season the breast
by injecting 2 -3 times on each side and repeat the process on the
upper thighs. Slowly submerge the turkey by using the handles included
in the frying set two to three inches at a time, to keep the oil
from boiling over. Once the turkey is completely submerged, maintain
a frying temperature of 335-350 F and cook three minutes per pound
or until internal temperature of breast reaches 150-155 F, approximately
50 minutes. Remove the turkey from the oil and allow to sit overnight.
Less than two tablespoons of oil will be used in this frying process
and may be reused three to four times. A 16-pound turkey will yield
approximately 5 1/2 pounds of meat. At 3 ounces per person, you
can serve 25 friends a great fried turkey sandwich!
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