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Smothered turkey wings. Think biscuits and gravy, but with turkey wings instead of sausage, and mashed potatoes instead of biscuits, and you'll be in the vicinity of how gloriously rich and delicious this dish is.
Turkey Wings: a Must-Try Recipe If You Love Turkey (or Chicken)
Do you love turkey? Do you find chicken wings irresistible? Have you ever picked up a package of turkey wings wondering what wonderful goodness you could make with them? That's me, by the way, and here's what I made with the turkey wings that were calling my name in the store the other day.
My father liked them so much, he begged the recipe from me just so he could eat them again. Even though he forgot to tent the wings with foil until halfway through (don't do that), they still were amazing.
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How to Make Smothered Turkey Wings
Smothered turkey wings are a staple of the south. And as the case with most regional specialties, everyone has their way of doing it.
In this recipe, we slow roast the wings in a low oven for a couple of hours, until they're fall apart tender, and then finish them in the broiler for some crispy skin and browning. While the wings are roasting, we make stock from the wing tips (or an extra wing if your wings didn't come with tips). We make a roux gravy with this stock to smother the turkey wings when done.
It's rich, crazy good, and definitely not diet food. But for comfort on a cold day? The best!
How to Store and Use Leftover Turkey Stock
Leftover turkey stock is a smart cook's favorite bonus. You can just put the entire strained pot of stock into the fridge (after it has cooled down to room temperature, of course). Then, skim off the fat before pouring the stock into smaller portions for easier storage.
The stock will keep for about 5 days in the refrigerator, and 6 months in the freezer.
Turkey stock is great for soups, sauces, gravy, whenever you need extra liquid for an Instant Pot recipe, or anytime you would use chicken stock.
What to Serve with Smothered Turkey Wings
- Perfect Mashed Potatoes
- Celery Root Mash
- Puréed Roasted Parsnips
- Mashed Cauliflower with Brown Butter
- Mashed Rutabagas with Sour Cream and Dill
More Turkey Recipes to Try!
- Mom's Roast Turkey
- Cajun Turkey Pot Pie
- Chipotle Turkey Pozole
- Curried Turkey Soup
- Turkey Black Bean Enchiladas
Smothered Turkey Wings
You'll need the turkey wing tips to make turkey stock for the gravy. If your turkey wings didn't come with the tips, use an extra turkey wing (drumette and flat) for making the stock.
Ingredients
Turkey Wings:
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6 whole turkey wings (about 5 pounds), or 7 turkey wings without the tips
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1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
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Salt
Stock:
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2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
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1 carrot, chopped
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1/2 medium onion, chopped
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1 rib celery, chopped
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3 cups water
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1/2 teaspoon salt
Gravy:
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3 tablespoons unsalted butter
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3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1/4 teaspoon pepper
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1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
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1/4 cup cream
Method
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Preheat the oven:
Preheat the oven to 275°F.
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Prep the turkey wings:
Using poultry sheers or a sharp knife, separate each turkey wing into 3 segments—drumette, flat, and tip. Set aside the tips (if you have them) for making stock.
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Slow roast the turkey wings:
Place turkey wing drumettes and flats, skin side up, onto a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan. Toss with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt.
Cover with aluminum foil and put into a 275°F oven for 2 1/2 hours.
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Make the stock:
While the turkey wing drumettes and flats are roasting, make stock with the tips. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium, thick-bottomed pot on medium high heat. Add the turkey wing tips and let them brown on all sides.
Elise Bauer Add the chopped carrot, onion, and celery, and sauté them for a few minutes with the wings.
Elise Bauer Add 3 cups of water, enough to cover the wings and vegetables, and salt. Bring to a boil on high heat, then reduce to a low simmer on the lowest setting. Cover and let simmer while the wings roast in the oven, a couple of hours.
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Strain the stock:
When the wings are close to being done, strain the stock so you can start making the gravy. Remove and discard the largest solids from the pot. Then strain the rest of the stock through a fine mesh strainer. You should have about 3 cups of stock. Reserve for the next step.
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Make the gravy:
Make a roux by melting 3 tablespoons butter in a medium sized, thick-bottomed pot, on medium heat. Add the flour and whisk to combine. Let the roux cook and bubble for a minute or so.
Elise Bauer Slowly whisk in the turkey stock you made in steps, whisking constantly to break up any lumps.
Elise Bauer Whisk in the mustard, salt, pepper, and thyme. Whisk in the cream. Let simmer on low heat to thicken.
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Broil the wings to brown them:
After 2 1/2 hours of slow cooking in the oven, the turkey wings should be fall apart tender (if not, you can leave them in longer until they are).
Remove the foil and place the wings on a rack a few inches under the broiler. Broil for 5 minutes or so, until the skin gets somewhat browned.
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Scrape the pan drippings into the gravy:
You don't have to do this, but it will add even more flavor to your gravy. If the drippings are really stuck to the pan, place the roasting pan on your stovetop and turn on the burners under the pan.
Add a cup of water to the pan and use a metal spatula to scrape up the drippings. Pour them off into the gray pot.
Elise Bauer To serve, pour the gravy over the wings. Serve with a side of mashed potatoes, root vegetables, or cauliflower.
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Serve the turkey wings with gravy:
To serve, pour the gravy over the wings. Serve with a side of mashed potatoes, root vegetables, or cauliflower.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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328 | Calories |
27g | Fat |
8g | Carbs |
14g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 328 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 27g | 34% |
Saturated Fat 10g | 51% |
Cholesterol 74mg | 25% |
Sodium 602mg | 26% |
Total Carbohydrate 8g | 3% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 3% |
Total Sugars 1g | |
Protein 14g | |
Vitamin C 2mg | 11% |
Calcium 37mg | 3% |
Iron 1mg | 7% |
Potassium 213mg | 5% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |