You may have thrown them out in the past because you did not know what to do with turkey giblets, but you will soon enough. The offal meat is invaluable.
As holiday time approaches, so do ideas of abundant turkey dinners and giblets. Yes, the offal meat, packaged and stuffed into the cavity of the bird that you forgot to remove at least once in your life, is a bundle of special ingredients. The problem is that a lot of people do not know what to do with turkey giblets or don’t care to cook with them because they are not very appealing. That said, once you give them a try and experience the depth of flavor they add, you may find yourself requesting some from your local butcher.
As mentioned, giblets are offal meat, a term used for edible internal organs and nonmuscular meat parts of animals that people regularly consume. The giblets often included in the package found in the turkey cavity include the heart, the liver, and the gizzard (a muscular organ that grinds up food for digestion). Hearts have a lot of complexity, turkey livers are very nutrient-dense, and gizzards have a complex, earthy flavor. According to the USDA the neck of the bird is not a “giblet” but since the neck boasts dark, flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth meat, we include it in our uses below.
Innards refers to the all the internal organs while giblets refers to certain specific internal organs, the heart, liver, and gizzard. Examples of turkey innards that are not giblets include the gall bladder, lungs, kidneys, and trachea. Some are dangerous to consume (gall bladder) while others just may be too small (lungs) to consume, have a tougher texture (kidneys) or are undesirable to eat for most people (testicles).
What to Do With Turkey Neck and Giblets Besides Gravy
As the holidays approach, many of us look forward to roasting a tasty turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. But what do you do with the turkey neck and giblets that come tucked away inside the bird? Sure, you can use them to make a rich gravy, but there are so many other delicious ways to make use of these flavorful turkey parts as well.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 creative ideas for putting turkey necks and giblets to good use. From nutritious homemade stock to appetizing snacks, these turkey extras can add flavor and nutrition to your holiday meals.
Let’s take a closer look at how to make the most of your turkey neck and giblets
Make Turkey StockOne of the best uses for turkey necks and giblets is to make your own nourishing turkey stock. Simmer the neck, giblets, aromatic veggies like onions and carrots, and fresh herbs in water for at least an hour Strain and you’ll be left with a tasty, collagen-rich turkey broth perfect for soups, stews, gravy, and more. The long-cooked neck meat can also be pulled off and chopped up for other recipes.
Whip Up Hearty Turkey SoupYour homemade turkey stock is the base for endless soup options. Add chopped turkey meat, noodles or rice vegetables and seasonings for a comforting soup. Or try an Italian-style turkey and escarole soup, turkey and wild rice soup, or a New England-style turkey noodle soup. The possibilities are endless.
Make Delicious Turkey Gravy
Chopped giblets can add richness and robust flavor to your Thanksgiving gravy. Sauté them first for the best flavor. Then follow your normal gravy recipe, using the giblet-infused turkey stock and extra depth from the cooked chopped giblets. Drizzle this giblet gravy over your turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.
Craft Flavorful Turkey Stuffing
Chopped giblets are a tasty addition to your favorite stuffing or dressing recipes. Cooked, chopped giblets add moisture and turkey essence to stuffing. For an extra kick, fry chopped livers until lightly crispy then mix them into the stuffing before baking.
Whip Up Liver Pâté
Turkey livers can be puréed with butter, brandy, herbs and spices for a smooth, rich liver pâté. Chill the pâté, then serve it on crackers or crusty bread as an appetizer. Your holiday guests will love this elegant yet easy spread.
Make Delicious Snackable Giblets
Don’t toss those gizzards and hearts! Give them new life as finger-licking fried giblet snacks. Soak them in buttermilk or brine then coat in seasoned flour and fry up. Or season and roast them until crispy. Dip in your favorite sauce and enjoy these as game day snacks.
Craft Nutritious Turkey Bone Broth
After roasting your turkey, save the carcass and bones. Put them in a pot with veggies, herbs, and water and simmer all day. This bone broth is nutrient-dense and healing. Sip the broth on its own or use it as the base for healthy soups and stews. Freeze any extra for later.
Make Flavorful Fried Rice
Leftover cooked giblets can be tossed into fried rice for added flavor and protein. Simply chop and stir-fry the giblets with vegetables, cooked rice, soy sauce, and spices for an easy one-pan meal. Kids who won’t eat liver on its own will love it mixed into fried rice.
Whip Up Hearty Turkey Chili
Ground turkey giblets add rich flavor to turkey chili. Cook and grind the giblets in a food processor then sauté them with onions and peppers. Add to your favorite chili recipe along with beans, tomatoes, and spices. Top with cheese and dig in.
Craft Homemade Dog Treats
Show your pooch some love this Thanksgiving by crafting healthy homemade dog treats from turkey giblets. Simply simmer giblets until fully cooked then chop. Mix into their kibble or make into jerky for nutritious, tasty rewards. Just be sure to avoid adding any potentially toxic ingredients for dogs.
As you can see, turkey necks and giblets can do so much more than just make gravy. With a little creativity, you can transform these nutrient-dense turkey parts into delicious soups, snacks, spreads and more. This holiday season, embrace the versatility of the turkey and make the most of every bit. Your family and friends will be impressed and nourished. Happy turkey cooking!
Add to Stuffing for Sausage Stuffing
Giblets add an immensely flavorful, savory meatiness to stuffing. If you make stock, everything except the liver will be cooked, so all you have to do is remove the meat from the neck, finely chop the heart and gizzards, then sauté the livers before chopping those up as well. Once done, everything goes into the stuffing, which goes into a casserole dish, where it is baked until golden brown. In case you didn’t prepare turkey giblet stock beforehand, boil the giblets with water and broth, as well as aromatic vegetables, until cooked through.
Turn turkey giblets into a tasty appetizer to serve before the turkey dinner alongside crackers or crostini. This option calls for the liver, which you should never boil since doing so results in an unpleasant bitter flavor. To make it:
- Pat the raw liver dry with a paper towel and cut the liver into uniform slices.
- Sauté the liver over medium heat with olive oil and butter along with onions. Take the liver off the heat once the slices brown. Turkey liver only needs 3-4 minutes to cook.
- Add the liver to a food processor with whatever else you would like to include in the pâté, such as herbs, garlic, salt, pepper, sherry, and cream. There are several directions to go in.
- Transfer to a serving platter alongside crackers or spread on crostini, then serve.
Where to Buy Turkey Giblets
Often, turkey giblets are a free inclusion with the purchase of a whole turkey. However, you can also purchase them separately at a heavily discounted price from your local butcher shop. Those who buy their poultry at the grocery store may be able to find packages of turkey gizzards at the meat counter. While chicken giblets, specifically hearts, livers, and gizzards, are relatively easy to find year-round, turkey giblets tend to be more seasonal.
Now, let’s discuss what to do with turkey giblets because they have so many uses and do an excellent job of adding flavor to food. Better yet, they’re easy to work with, which means minimal fuss.
How To Make The Best Giblet Gravy | Dear Test Kitchen
FAQ
What do you do with the turkey neck and giblets?
My mom, who could never let anything go to waste, always used the turkey neck and giblets to make a quick pot of broth to use for making gravy or moistening stuffing. And, that’s what I do. This broth is so much more flavorful than anything that comes out of a can or box.
What can I do with turkey giblets other than gravy?
Gizzards, the most versatile giblet, can be folded into sauces or side dishes (before brining or cooking, remove the tough silverskin connecting the two muscles). And the heart and liver can be fried up as a snack or used to add subtle depth to sides or leftovers.
What to do with turkey neck besides gravy?
I hold back the neck for making soup stock later. Throw it away. Put it in the pan to roast with the turkey, it’ll help flavor gravy or save it for stock.
What can I do with my turkey neck?
Make Stock or Broth: The neck is great for adding flavor to homemade turkey stock. Simply simmer it with vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions, along with herbs such as thyme and bay leaves. This stock can be used for gravy or soups.
What can you do with Turkey Neck & giblets?
The turkey neck and giblets may not look very appetizing, but they impart tremendous flavor. Simmering them makes a rich, concentrated turkey broth perfect for gravy, soup stocks, or stuffing. The cooked giblet meats can also be chopped and added to gravy for extra texture and savoriness.
How do you make a turkey gravy for Thanksgiving?
Upgrade your Thanksgiving turkey with a flavorful giblet gravy made from cooked giblets, turkey neck, and poultry parts. Create a delicious giblet broth by simmering turkey giblets, neck, vegetables, and herbs in water for at least an hour. Combine the rich giblet broth with savory turkey drippings and flour to create a lump-free, thickened gravy.
How do you make turkey giblet gravy?
Create a delicious giblet broth by simmering turkey giblets, neck, vegetables, and herbs in water for at least an hour. Combine the rich giblet broth with savory turkey drippings and flour to create a lump-free, thickened gravy. Dice cooked giblets and neck meat before adding them back into the gravy for added flavor and texture.
Can you put Turkey Neck and giblets in gravy?
Definitely! The giblets render a rich flavor to gravies. Simmer them with onions, herbs, and chicken broth, then strain the liquid and incorporate it into your homemade gravy for an incredible taste. 8. How long can I keep the turkey neck and giblets in the refrigerator?
Can you use turkey giblet stock to make gravy?
The neck, in particular, has quite an impact, as it is the key to a rich, almost gelatinous stock that can be used to make anything from gravy to various soups and stews. As mentioned, turkey giblet stock can be used to make gravy, but good giblet gravy extends beyond that. Start with the standard butter and flour roux.
How do you cook a turkey neck with thyme?
Add giblets & neck to the saucepan. Place giblets and neck into a saucepan with 2 cups chicken stock and add water to cover the neck and giblets with 2 inches of liquid. Add in seasonings. Add 1 bay leaf, and 2 sprigs of thyme and then simmer on low while the turkey is roasting. Drain drippings.