Turkey with Prunes and Garlic

Turkey with Prunes and Garlic is a smart and tasty way to give new life to food after Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Many ingredients from the festive table, like meat and vegetables, work perfectly for a hearty and nourishing Ukrainian borsch.

This idea forms the foundation of our future recipe. You’ll find the full instructions in the link below, where turkey with bacon, prunes, apples, and garlic becomes the flavorful base for your borsch.

If you’re wondering how to prepare the turkey, we’ve included detailed baking instructions as well. It’s a simple and satisfying way to transform leftovers into a rich, comforting meal.

Directions

1. Let’s make a bacon dressing to spread the turkey with this mixture. We take bacon and calculate that for every 1 kg of turkey, you need 100 grams of bacon. Remove the skin from the bacon. We need only the pulp.
   

2. Chop the pickled peppers, remove the seeds, and carefully remove the pulp of the pepper from the skin. Do not touch your eyes and nose. The pepper is hot.
3. Put prepared bacon, 2 heads of garlic, pickled chili peppers, fresh parsley, salt, and curry in a blender. Grind the components until smooth.
4. Wash the prunes, remove the seeds from the apples and cut off the skin, and clean 2 heads of garlic. Cut it all into small slices.
5. Divide the bacon mixture into two parts. Apply one part to the turkey skin. Use the second part of the mixture to spread the turkey under the skin, having previously lifted the skin with a spoon.
6. Put chopped and slightly salted apples, prunes, garlic, and bay leaves inside the turkey.
7. Cover the turkey with foil. If desired, put a cooking thermometer inside to understand the even temperature inside the turkey.
8. Put the dish in the oven, preheated to 180°C. Our 4 kg of turkey needs to be cooked for 140-150 minutes. For each kilogram of turkey, it will take approximately 35 minutes to cook.
9. Remove the foil from the turkey 10-15 minutes before the end of baking. But don’t throw it away.
10. When the turkey is done, cover it with foil and a towel. Let it cool, steep, and soak in the smell and taste for 2 hours.
11. You can serve the turkey on the table and decorate the dish with garlic and rosemary sprigs.

Turkey Time — How Long to Cook:

Video by Food Wishes

Leftover Ideas for Christmas Turkey with Apples, Prunes, and Garlic

Turkey and Prune Salad. Shred leftover turkey and toss it with chopped prunes, mixed greens, and your favorite salad dressing. Top with crumbled goat cheese and toasted walnuts for extra flavor and crunch.

Turkey and Apple Quesadillas. Use leftover turkey and sautéed apples to make a delicious quesadilla. Spread some cream cheese on a tortilla and top with shredded turkey, sautéed apples, cheese, and any additional toppings you like. Cook in a skillet until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is crispy.

Turkey and Prune Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. Bake sweet potatoes until tender and then split them open. Mix leftover turkey, chopped prunes, and a bit of chopped parsley or green onion. Spoon the mixture into the sweet potatoes and top with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Turkey and Apple Panini. Use leftover turkey and sautéed apples to make a delicious panini. Spread some honey mustard on bread, top with shredded turkey, sautéed apples, cheese, and any additional toppings you like. Cook in a panini press until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy.

Turkey and Prune Pasta. Cook your favorite pasta according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, sauté leftover turkey and chopped prunes in a large skillet with garlic and olive oil. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh herbs.