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Turkey Breast cutlets. Ideas? (Original Post) Behind the Aegis Aug 2017 OP
do you like Mexican? lapfog_1 Aug 2017 #1
LOVE Mexican! Behind the Aegis Aug 2017 #2
I covered them with a little oil, and season Ilsa Aug 2017 #3
Sounds good. Behind the Aegis Aug 2017 #8
Suggest being very scrupulous about not overcooking. Hortensis Aug 2017 #4
I am really anal about temps. Behind the Aegis Aug 2017 #9
Understand and agree completely. But what is a right temperature? Hortensis Aug 2017 #14
It's worth applying a bit of food science Major Nikon Aug 2017 #5
OK, when I implied I could cook, I was being hyperbolic! Behind the Aegis Aug 2017 #10
Now is your chance to cook intriguing looking pork recipes Warpy Aug 2017 #6
Given that I am Jewish and my husband is 7th Day Adventist... Behind the Aegis Aug 2017 #11
Pork loin is the most similar, IMO Warpy Aug 2017 #13
bread and fry them... The empressof all Aug 2017 #7
Thanks! Behind the Aegis Aug 2017 #12
Ha!!! This made me laugh. blaze Aug 2017 #16
Have you tried marinating? blaze Aug 2017 #15
Substitute turkey cutlets for chicken in Chinese stir-fry recipes, no_hypocrisy Aug 2017 #17

lapfog_1

(29,205 posts)
1. do you like Mexican?
Wed Aug 23, 2017, 04:23 AM
Aug 2017

I substitute them for pork loin and make a decent "green chile turkey"

cut into strips or small chunks, drench in flour with dry spices (pepper, chile powder, garlic, etc), "deep fry" in a pan using vegetable oil, throw into a slow cooker with commercial green chile salsa (or make your own). top with sour cream for a yummy burrito.

Behind the Aegis

(53,957 posts)
2. LOVE Mexican!
Wed Aug 23, 2017, 04:35 AM
Aug 2017

This sounds intriguing. I actually have a great Green Chili salsa, so this could be really awesome. Thanks for the suggestion!

Ilsa

(61,695 posts)
3. I covered them with a little oil, and season
Wed Aug 23, 2017, 05:28 AM
Aug 2017

chicken cutlets with McCormicks Chipotle and Roasted Garlic seasoning, then pan fry them. After cooking, I put Marie's Chipotle-Ranch dressing on them and let them rest in a warm spot for ten minutes. Then I serve it over egg noodles.

Behind the Aegis

(53,957 posts)
8. Sounds good.
Thu Aug 24, 2017, 04:47 PM
Aug 2017

My big thing is trying to watch my sodium intake too, but this sounds pretty good, so I may give it a whirl. I actually have a packet of that seasoning. Thanks!

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
4. Suggest being very scrupulous about not overcooking.
Wed Aug 23, 2017, 05:37 AM
Aug 2017

Use the temperature thermometer choose the temperature you're comfortable with, but probably well below the 165 the FDA still formally suggests for everybody roasting a whole turkey. It makes a tremendous difference.

My favorite chicken salad is actually turkey salad. That's for what it's worth, because I roast with skin on and bone in and baste the turkey cubes with their own drippings for flavor. Nevertheless, maybe way of enjoying cutlets that went just a little too long?

Behind the Aegis

(53,957 posts)
9. I am really anal about temps.
Thu Aug 24, 2017, 04:49 PM
Aug 2017

I always afraid I am going to poison me or my husband, so I always get the temps right. These breasts are so thin, though, it is really easy to overcook.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
14. Understand and agree completely. But what is a right temperature?
Thu Aug 24, 2017, 05:22 PM
Aug 2017

Maybe read up on that and see if you could cook to a lower temperature? As Major Nikon indicated, safe cooking is a function of both temperature and time maintained at high temperature. Unfortunately, time isn't going to help you out a whole lot in something as thin as cutlets, but you may discover that you don't actually have to cook all the way to 165, and every degree you can cut off that will help you.

Thanks for this thread, by the way. I really like Warpy's suggestion to look for good pork recipes. I'm not crazy about pork so tend to flip on by. (Thanks, Warpy.)

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)
5. It's worth applying a bit of food science
Wed Aug 23, 2017, 01:00 PM
Aug 2017

There's two basic problems you have to deal with when cooking poultry.

1) Too much heat for too long can cause poultry proteins to denature and squeeze out natural juices, which results in a dry and chalky texture and significant reductions in flavor. This problem has been exacerbated by modern poultry production which produces a leaner product that's more susceptible to overcooking.

2) Consuming poultry products has an inherent increased risk of salmonellosis, which at worst can cause death, but more commonly results in less major gastrointestinal illnesses.

The challenge is that undercooking to correct for #1 can result #2 (in more ways than one, pardon the pun), and overcooking to correct for #2 can result in #1.

Dark meat like turkey legs are easier to cook because they have a higher fat content and are less forgiving of overcooking, but not everyone likes dark meat.

There's at least two strategies you can employ to correct for both problems, either independently or preferably simultaneously.

The first is the application of salt to the interior of the meat. Salt not only adds flavor, but causes the proteins to retain moisture. Many people like to accomplish this by wet brining in a 5-10% brine solution (5-10% salt to water ratio, by weight). If I have the time, I prefer to liberally sprinkle salt to the outside of the meat, and cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 24 hours. This is the dry brining method and both are described in the link.

The next strategy is temperature control. There is a band of temperature and time that results in a safe result, without overcooking. This method is the essence of pasteurization and relies on both time and temperature throughout the interior of the meat. For home cooking, the government recommends cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165F. The problem is that's about the temperature at which poultry starts to become dry and chalky, and if you leave it in the oven till that temp is achieved, you can easily overshoot that mark with residual cooking that results after you remove it from the oven. It's entirely possible to render poultry perfectly safe at temperatures as low as 136F, but you must be able to hold that temperature for longer periods of time. A method for cooking to lower temps is described in the link, which is for chicken breast, but can be adapted for turkey. It does require a good meat thermometer, and there's lots of different products which will do this in the range of $20 to whatever you want to pay.

Behind the Aegis

(53,957 posts)
10. OK, when I implied I could cook, I was being hyperbolic!
Thu Aug 24, 2017, 04:52 PM
Aug 2017

I still follow recipes to the letter (most of them), because I am not a god cook. I will have to read, the reread this info. I am concerned about the salt portion because I am really trying to control sodium, especially given I just got off my blood pressure medicine. My big issue are these breasts are relevantly thin and 99% fat free, which makes them difficult to cook and still be tender and juicy.

I was also curious about flavor profiles, but it looks like if I can do it for chicken or pork, then I can use the same ingredients for turkey. That's good to know.

Thanks for the in-depth info!

Warpy

(111,264 posts)
6. Now is your chance to cook intriguing looking pork recipes
Wed Aug 23, 2017, 05:03 PM
Aug 2017

I kid you not, white meat turkey and pork have such similar flavor that it works out beautifully, especially when you butcher the turkey breasts down into medallions.

I've been subbing turkey for pork for years. It does require a little safflower oil in Chinese cooking, but that's about it.

Dinner guests will never be able to tell the difference.

Behind the Aegis

(53,957 posts)
11. Given that I am Jewish and my husband is 7th Day Adventist...
Thu Aug 24, 2017, 04:55 PM
Aug 2017

...not a lot of pork dishes are prepared in our home. Actually, never. LOL! Though we both do lurves us some bacon! However, I never considered looking at pork recipes and using turkey breasts. Which type of pork cut would be similar? Thanks for the info!

Warpy

(111,264 posts)
13. Pork loin is the most similar, IMO
Thu Aug 24, 2017, 05:17 PM
Aug 2017

Both pork and turkey do best with a sweet/savory combo, which is why I started to look at pork recipes many ago and try them with turkey. Turkey is really successful in Chinese recipes that call for pork. Experimentation will tell you if you need to add a little extra oil to the recipe to compensate for the lack of fat in turkey.

Everybody I knew in Boston was Jewish or Irish, so my cooking tended to reflect it.

The empressof all

(29,098 posts)
7. bread and fry them...
Wed Aug 23, 2017, 10:50 PM
Aug 2017

Then you can make parm.

They are also good as a picatta with lemon and capers. Lightly flour them and pan saute. Remove from pan and deglaze pan with white wine and lemon juice. Add chicken back to pan to finish in sauce. I usually serve this with angle hair pasta dressed with a garlicy oil and lemon zest.

Behind the Aegis

(53,957 posts)
12. Thanks!
Thu Aug 24, 2017, 04:56 PM
Aug 2017

This is a bit over my head. I would have to find an actual recipe, I can't really cook, I just go through the motions, but it does sustain us. LOL!

blaze

(6,362 posts)
16. Ha!!! This made me laugh.
Fri Aug 25, 2017, 09:48 AM
Aug 2017

I can't cook without a recipe. I just don't have that creative gene or taste bud. I'm so jealous of people who can taste a dish and say, "Oh! this just needs a little (insert ingredient here) and it will be perfect!!

When people compliment me on a dish it's only because I've found a good recipe.

blaze

(6,362 posts)
15. Have you tried marinating?
Fri Aug 25, 2017, 09:44 AM
Aug 2017

There are a boat load of suggestions if you google marinated chicken recipes. My favorite right now is a greek gyro marinade.

https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/saucy-chicken-gyros/#bo-recipe

I have learned to trust this little trick for "doneness." The fleshy part of your palm... at the base of your thump... with your fingers straightened out. Push on that. That's about how your chicken should feel. I used to always cut a sample piece at the thickest part to double check for any pink, but after doing it for a while, I trust it now.

Also, let the meat rest for around 10 minutes before you cut it to let the juices redistribute.

With this particular recipe, I serve it on pita bread with chopped tomatoes, cucumber and some sour cream or plain greek yogurt. If you have some time, it's even better with a tzatzkiki sauce.

no_hypocrisy

(46,114 posts)
17. Substitute turkey cutlets for chicken in Chinese stir-fry recipes,
Fri Aug 25, 2017, 03:00 PM
Aug 2017

using h/m turkey stock instead of chicken broth?

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