Thanksgiving | Japanese-Style Turkey Stuffed with Takana Fried Rice Recipe

Hello! It’s Maegami from the “Goddess’ Bangs” blog. Today, I’m sharing a recipe from our “Homemade Meals” series. One of the most cherished events for families in America is Thanksgiving. On this special day, turkey is usually the main dish. However, some people feel that turkey can be bland or not tasty enough. So, this time, I decided to try a Japanese-style turkey recipe for a change!

maegami

It’s delicious !

Japanese-Style Turkey Stuffed with Takana Fried Rice Recipe

Here’s a unique Japanese-style turkey recipe for Thanksgiving. This turkey uses a flavorful combination of salt koji and takana (pickled mustard greens), which will elevate your special time with family and friends.

Ingredients:

Turkey:

• Turkey (4 pounds or about 1.8 kg)

Fried Rice:

• Takana (1 package, pickled mustard greens)
• Carrot (1 small, optional)
• Walnuts (as needed; chestnuts or pecans can also be used)
• Mochi rice (3 cups; white rice can also be used)
• Garlic (5 cloves, optional)
• Ginger (about the size of your thumb)

Seasoning:

• Salt koji (as needed; homemade is best and cheaper)
• Garlic soy sauce (as needed; garlic marinated in soy sauce for 2 weeks)
• Sake (as needed)
• Mirin (as needed)
• Salt (a pinch; sea salt is recommended)
• Oil (as needed; avocado oil is ideal)

Instructions:

Preparing the Takana Fried Rice:

1. Cooking the Mochi Rice: Cook 3 cups of mochi rice in an Instant Pot. Set to low pressure for 10 minutes, then let it steam (without opening the lid) for 30 minutes. For white rice, cook for 5-6 minutes.
2. Preparing the Ingredients: Chop the takana, carrot, walnuts, garlic, and ginger. Adjust the amount of takana and carrot to your taste.
3. Stir-frying: Heat avocado oil in a pan and sauté the takana, carrot, walnuts, garlic, and ginger. Add garlic soy sauce while stir-frying. Once done, mix the sautéed ingredients into the cooked mochi rice.

Preparing the Turkey:

1. Seasoning: Rub salt koji, sake, and mirin inside the turkey to add flavor.
2. Stuffing: Gradually stuff the turkey from the rear with the takana fried rice. Once stuffed, tie the legs securely with kitchen twine.

Cooking the Turkey:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (about 200°C).
2. Baking Instructions:
   • First, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes.
   • Then, cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 2 hours.
   • Finally, uncover the foil and bake for 30 minutes to crisp the skin.
3. Resting: Turn off the oven and let the turkey rest for 30 minutes.

Final Touches:

• Baking Completion: When the skin of the turkey turns golden brown and crispy, it’s done!
• Making the Gravy: The turkey drippings mixed with salt koji, soy sauce, and sake make a delicious gravy.

Conclusion:

This Japanese-style turkey recipe is a unique dish with the rich flavors of salt koji and takana. Although the cooking time in the oven is about 3 hours, plus 30 minutes of resting, the result is a truly delicious turkey. If you’re tired of the same old Thanksgiving turkey, why not try this recipe for a delightful change?

Related post : How to make Korean Kimuchi?