Bone broth may have many nutritional benefits. It is rich in nutrients and may support the health of your bones and digestive system, among other benefits.
Research supporting the benefits of bone broth is limited, but there’s plenty of evidence that the nutrients it provides can be beneficial for health.
This article takes a closer look at bone broth, a recipe for making it, and its potential health benefits.
This forms a stock for making soups, sauces, and gravies. It can also provide a nutritious drink.
Bone broth dates back to prehistoric times, when hunter-gatherers turned otherwise inedible animal parts like bones, hooves, and knuckles into a broth they could drink.
You can make bone broth using bones from just about any animal — chicken, pork, beef, veal, turkey, lamb, bison, buffalo, venison, or fish.
Making bone broth is very simple. There are many recipes online, but most people don’t even use a recipe.
Adding vinegar is important because it helps pull all of the valuable nutrients out of the bones and into the water, which is ultimately what you will be consuming.
Common additions include garlic, onion, celery, carrot, parsley, and thyme. You can add these in step one.
Turkey knuckles are an underrated cut that offers robust, succulent meat perfect for stews, braises, soups, and more. But where exactly on the bird are these knuckles located? Read on to learn about the anatomy behind this delicious and versatile turkey cut.
What Part of the Turkey Does Knuckles Come From?
Turkey knuckles come from the leg and are essentially the joint connecting the drumstick to the thigh The knuckle provides articulation that allows the lower drumstick to move back and forth.
On a whole turkey leg, the knuckle is located right above the ankle joint where the drumstick and thigh meet. It consists of dense connective tissue and collagen that requires long, slow cooking to break down into tender, flavorful meat
The Anatomy of a Turkey Leg
Looking at the anatomy of a whole turkey leg helps illustrate where knuckles originate:
-
Thigh – The thigh is the fattier, juicier upper portion of the leg above the knee joint. It contains mostly dark meat.
-
Drumstick – The drumstick is the lower portion of the leg below the knee. It has lots of connective tissue making the meat tough.
-
Knuckle – The knuckle connects the thigh to the drumstick and provides a joint for leg movement.
So knuckles come from the working knee joint area between the thigh meat and drumstick. This area doesn’t get much use in modern turkeys, so the meat remains richly flavored.
Where to Buy Turkey Knuckles
You can purchase turkey knuckles whole or separate them yourself from whole turkey legs. Here are some places to find them:
-
Butcher shops or meat markets – Ask your local butcher if they have knuckles for sale.
-
Specialty grocery stores – Some upscale grocers sell turkey knuckles, especially around the holidays.
-
Farmers markets – Check local markets when whole turkeys or legs are in season.
-
Directly from poultry farms – Buy directly from a local turkey farm.
-
Online mail order – There are some online specialty meat companies selling turkey knuckles.
If your regular market doesn’t stock them, ask the butcher to special order turkey knuckles for you. They are worth seeking out!
How to Separate Turkey Knuckles Yourself
You can easily remove knuckles from whole turkey legs:
-
Place the leg skin-side down and cut through the skin between the thigh and drumstick.
-
Bend the leg backwards until the knuckle pops out of its socket.
-
Slice through the connective tissue to fully detach the knuckle.
Leave some meat attached to both the thigh and drumstick when removing. Separating knuckles takes just a minute or two with a sharp knife.
How Are Turkey Knuckles Used in Cooking?
Turkey knuckles are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Here are some of the most popular preparation methods:
-
Braising and stewing – Slow cooking tenderizes meat and infuses rich flavor.
-
Soups and broth – Simmered knuckles make an aromatic, nourishing turkey stock.
-
Grilling and roasting – High dry heat crisps the skin beautifully.
-
Smoking – Smoked knuckles are succulent and permeated with flavor.
-
Frying – Crispy fried turkey knuckles are a delicious indulgence.
-
Casseroles and pot pies – Shredded meat works great in creamy baked dishes.
-
Sandwiches – Chopped knuckle meat piled on bread makes hearty sandwiches.
From French cassoulet to pozole stew, turkey knuckles shine in a wide range of global cuisine. Their versatility offers endless tasty possibilities in the kitchen.
Cooking Tips for Turkey Knuckles
Follow these tips to achieve delicious, tender turkey knuckles:
-
Braise or stew for at least 2 hours to fully break down connective tissue.
-
Use a meat thermometer and cook to 165°F minimum internal temperature.
-
When making stock, add collagen-rich ingredients like chicken feet.
-
Grill or roast turkey knuckles over high heat for 15-20 minutes to crisp the skin.
-
Let smoked knuckles rest 10 minutes before serving to redistribute juices.
-
For deep frying, maintain oil between 350-375°F and fry for 5-7 minutes.
Proper cooking times and temperatures are essential to render turkey knuckles safely edible and enjoyable.
Nutrition & Benefits of Turkey Knuckles
Beyond their amazing flavor, turkey knuckles offer great nutrition:
-
Excellent source of lean protein for muscle growth and recovery.
-
Lower in fat than other dark poultry meat like chicken legs.
-
Provides important vitamins and minerals like niacin, B6, and phosphorus.
-
Rich in collagen to support joint, hair, skin, and nail health.
-
Very satisfying and filling to help curb hunger.
-
Budget-friendly compared to turkey breast or other cuts.
For those seeking more lean protein without much fat, turkey knuckles are a smart choice. Their milder dark meat flavor also appeals to those who find other dark poultry meat too intense.
Turkey Knuckles Are Worth Seeking Out
While underutilized, turkey knuckles have a wonderfully rich flavor and tender texture when prepared properly. They come from the leg joint connecting the drumstick and thigh. Though they require some effort to source, turkey knuckles are well worth seeking out. Their versatility lends itself to endless possibilities, from slow braises to quick grilling. Try incorporating turkey knuckles into your cooking routine for delicious, nutritious meals!
It contains vitamins and minerals
Bone broth can be nutritious, but the precise nutritional content will depend on the bones you use.
- Animal bones are rich in calcium, magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals needed to build and strengthen your own bones. However, only small amounts of these nutrients — less than 5% of daily value — actually make it into the broth.
- Marrow provides minerals like calcium and phosphorus and very small amounts of vitamins A, B, K, and E.
- All these parts also contain the protein collagen, which turns into gelatin when cooked and yields several important amino acids.
Simmering the ingredients releases some of their nutrients into the water in a form your body can easily absorb.
Where to buy it
If you don’t have time to make bone broth, you can get organic and other types from health food stores, supermarkets, and online.
WHAT ARE TURKEY KNUCKLES ♀️
FAQ
What do turkey knuckles taste like?
The lady said it was kind of like a gizzard, but not bad.
How long does it take for turkey knuckles to boil?
Directions. Cook knuckles with onion in a large pot with enough water to fill pot within one inch from top, until tender. (30-45 min.)
Where does turkey meat come from?
- Most turkey meat in North America comes from domesticated turkeys raised on farms.
- The main domestic turkey varieties today come from turkeys that were imported from central Mexico to Europe in the 16th century.
- Most domestic turkeys are bred to have white feathers.
- Turkeys are fed a mixture of maize, wheat, groundnut cake, soy meal, and palm kernel cake.