Turkey Gizzards: Two Delicious Ways to Cook This Underrated Offal

Turkey gizzards, often overlooked and discarded, are actually a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be transformed into a variety of tasty dishes In this guide, we’ll explore two unique recipes that showcase the full potential of turkey gizzards:

1. Turkey Gizzards Two Ways by Serious Eats:

This article features two distinct recipes that highlight the versatility of turkey gizzards:

  • Turkey Gizzards Rillettes: This French-inspired recipe involves simmering the gizzards until tender, then shredding and pounding them into a spreadable paste. The rillettes are seasoned with herbs and spices, and can be enjoyed on bread, crackers, or even as a filling for sandwiches.
  • Chinese Red Braised Turkey Gizzards: This recipe takes a different approach, braising the gizzards in a flavorful mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, rock sugar, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon. The resulting dish is a tender and flavorful appetizer, perfect for serving with noodles or rice.

2. How to Cook Turkey Gizzards by Recipesnet:

This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to cook turkey gizzards, including:

  • Cleaning and preparing the gizzards: The article explains how to properly clean and trim the gizzards to ensure they are ready for cooking.
  • Cooking methods: The article outlines various cooking methods for turkey gizzards, including stovetop simmering, oven roasting, and even grilling.
  • Cooking times: The article provides estimated cooking times for each method, ensuring you achieve perfectly cooked gizzards.
  • Recipe ideas: The article offers a range of recipe ideas for using cooked turkey gizzards, such as gizzard stew, gizzard curry, and gizzard stir-fry.

Additional Resources:

  • How to Cook Turkey Gizzards on the Stovetop: This video tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to cook turkey gizzards on the stovetop, ensuring tender and flavorful results.
  • How to Cook Turkey Gizzards in the Oven: This video tutorial demonstrates how to cook turkey gizzards in the oven, resulting in crispy and golden-brown gizzards.

Turkey gizzards, while often overlooked, are a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. With the right recipes and cooking techniques, you can transform these humble offal into a culinary delight. So, next time you come across turkey gizzards, don’t throw them away! Instead, try one of these recipes and discover the hidden potential of this unique ingredient.

Chinese Red Braise

how to cook turkey gizzards

Nothing smells more like home to me than a red-braised dish. Almost anything can be simmered by the Shanghainese using a mixture of water, soy sauce, cinnamon, star anise, and rock sugar. My mothers red-braised pork is a staple around her house; in mine, its red-braised gizzards. A platter of red braised gizzards, sliced thinly on the bias, makes a great cold starter for a Chinese meal. I used to always make this dish with chicken gizzards, but lately I’ve switched to turkey. Their larger size makes cutting paper-thin slices so much easier. I like to have a tub of them on hand for late-night snacking.

Stock, Rillettes, and Beyond

how to cook turkey gizzards

Turkey gizzards pair surprisingly well with rillettes, a traditional French dish made from long-simmered meat that is shredded and pounded into a spreadable paste. For this kind of potted meat, pork, rabbit, or duck are typically used, but turkey gizzards also work well.

The best way to make rillettes is to stew the meat in either fat or water, then pound it with stock and fat. Then, pour the mixture into a ramekin or jar and cover the top with a thin layer of fat. Rillettes are perfect as an appetizer; these pots also make a satisfying but straightforward meal when paired with a baguette and a basic green salad.

how to cook turkey gizzards

How to cook gizzard. Turkey gizzard recipe.

FAQ

What do you do with the gizzards of a turkey?

Preparing or cooking giblets doesn’t have to be intimidating. There’s a variety of methods to use. You can cut them up and simmer with a mix of veggies, garlic, and bacon, or you can flour-dredge and fry them like you might prepare traditional liver. Chopping and adding them into sauces is another option.

Do you have to clean turkey gizzards?

Most gizzards are sold partially cleaned — you normally only need to remove the silverskin membrane on either side of the meat nugget before you put them in the pot or fry them up.

How do I know when turkey gizzards are done?

Once cooked, hearts and gizzards will soften and become tender for easy chopping. Liver will become crumbly and is often made into paté. Giblets should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 ° F (73.9 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. Stuffing should be cooked to 165 ° F (73.9 °C).

Is it OK to eat turkey gizzards?

Yes, turkey gizzards are edible and can be enjoyed as a tasty and nutritious part of the bird. Gizzards have a unique texture and flavor that many people find delicious when cooked properly.

Leave a Comment