Immerse yourself in the history and culinary origins of the American South with the recipe for “Turkey Wings Braised and Baked in Sauce”. This dish is one of the bright representatives of soul food cuisine – the traditional cuisine of African Americans in the southern states of the USA.
The tradition of stewing meat in a rich sauce originated in African-American communities in the South, where it was very important to get the maximum benefit from inexpensive cuts of meat. This “stewing” technique implies slow cooking of meat in a fragrant sauce, resulting in tender, moist, and flavorful dishes.
Just imagine tender, juicy turkey meat, soaked in a sauce with the perfect balance of salty, spicy, and slightly sweet.
The sauce, rich in flavors of onion, sweet pepper, and a blend of spices, gives each piece of meat an unmistakable taste.
The cooking process is simple, and the final result is definitely worth the effort.
Contents
⏱ Cooking time — 2 hours and 20 minutes overall. Includes 25 minutes of preparation and cooking + 1 hour 55 minutes unattended.
🔪 Ingredients
For 4 servings:
- 1,2 lb of Turkey wings (~2 whole wings)
- 1 large onion
- ½ bell pepper
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. roasted chili powder (or cayenne pepper or chili powder)
- ½ tbsp. paprika
- black pepper
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
- olive oil
For the sauce:
- 50 g (1.8 oz) unsalted butter
- ½ bell pepper
- 1 large onion
- 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 400 ml (1 ⅔ cups) chicken broth (can be replaced with vegetable broth)
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ tsp. paprika
- 2 cloves of garlic
🥣 Directions
Preparing turkey wings
Place the turkey wings in a high baking dish.
Sprinkle wings with 1 tbsp. onion and 1 tbsp. garlic powder. Try to distribute the spices as evenly as possible.
Sprinkle wings with ½ tsp. roasted chili powder (or cayenne pepper/chili powder) – optionally, for a spicier taste.
Add ½ tsp. paprika. Use your hands to evenly distribute the spices all over the wings.
Lightly smear the wings with olive oil and massage them with your hands. Set aside.
Slicing vegetables
Peel 2 large onions (I have 4 small ones) and cut into half rings about 3/4 cm thick (0.3 inch).
Cut 1 sweet pepper into long strips about 1 cm (0.4 inch) wide.
Baking with vegetables
Add half of the chopped onion and sweet pepper to the turkey, making a vegetable pillow for it.
Pour 150 ml (5 fl.oz) of water into the bottom of the dish.
Cover the baking dish with foil, tightly pressing the edges.
Bake for 1 hour and 25 minutes at 150 °C (300 °F).
Remove the dish from the oven and remove the foil.
Drain the juice from the bottom of the dish into a separate bowl and set both aside. (Be careful, the dish is hot)
Preparing the vegetable sauce
Heat 50 g (1.8 oz) of unsalted butter in a wide saucepan or large frying pan.
Add the remaining half of the vegetables. Season them with the remaining ½ tsp. paprika and 1 tsp. smoked paprika. Cook the vegetables over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, when the vegetables become soft, add half of the flour.
Fry, stirring constantly, for about half a minute, then add the remaining flour.
Cook, stirring constantly, for about another 1 minute.
Adding the juice from the mold to the vegetables
After 5 minutes, when the vegetables become soft, add half of the all-purpose flour.
Fry, stirring constantly, for about half a minute, then add the remaining all-purpose flour.
Cook, stirring constantly, for about another 1 minute.
Pour the juice, drained from the baking dish, in two or three doses, each time stirring the contents of the saucepan well.
Finalizing the sauce
Now pour the broth also in several doses, without stopping stirring.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir occasionally and bring to a boil.
Add thyme leaves and remove from heat.
Final baking and serving of the dish
Pour the resulting sauce into the bottom of the baking dish.
Distribute the vegetables so that they float in the sauce and are not on the surface, so they do not burn.
Pour the turkey wings with the sauce and put in the oven for another 30-35 minutes at 200 °C (400 °F).
Serve with your favorite side dishes, cut into portions and drizzled with sauce.
🙋♂️ FAQ
What are Smothered Turkey Wings?
Smothered Turkey Wings are a classic dish from the American South. They involve slowly cooking turkey wings in a rich, flavorful sauce until tender, juicy, and full of flavor. It’s a dish known for its depth of flavor and comforting quality.
What kind of oil should I use for marinating the turkey wings?
Olive oil is recommended for marinating the turkey wings, but other oils like canola or vegetable oil can be used as well.
Can I use any other part of the turkey instead of the wings?
Yes, you can use other parts of the turkey such as the legs or thighs. However, cooking times may vary depending on the size and thickness of the meat.
What can I serve with the Smothered Turkey Wings?
The dish goes well with a variety of sides such as mashed potatoes, rice, coleslaw, cornbread, or roasted vegetables.
Can I make this dish spicier?
Yes, you can make this dish spicier by adding more cayenne pepper, chili powder, or even fresh hot peppers to the sauce.
Can I use dried thyme instead of fresh thyme?
Yes, you can use dried thyme. The general rule of thumb is to use one-third the amount of dried herbs as you would fresh.
How should I store leftovers?
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm in a covered skillet over medium heat, or in the microwave.
Can I make this dish vegetarian?
While the original recipe is not vegetarian, you could experiment with substitutes like large mushroom caps or tofu for the turkey, and vegetable broth for the chicken broth.
Can I prepare the turkey wings in advance?
Yes, you can marinate the turkey wings and prepare the sauce in advance. This can help to save time and also allows the flavors to develop more fully.
Is there any way to reduce the fat content in this dish?
Yes, to reduce the fat content, you could use a reduced-fat butter or margarine in the sauce, and remove the skin from the turkey wings prior to cooking.
Can I freeze this dish?
Yes, this dish can be frozen. Make sure to cool the dish completely before transferring to airtight containers suitable for freezing. It should last up to 3 months in the freezer.
Is it necessary to cover the baking dish with foil during the initial baking process?
Yes, covering the baking dish with foil helps to keep the moisture in and ensures that the turkey wings are cooked evenly and become tender.
Can I use gluten-free flour in the sauce?
Yes, you can substitute a gluten-free flour blend for the regular flour in the sauce. Just be aware that the consistency and flavor might be slightly different.
Smothered Turkey Wings
Ingredients
- 1,2 lb Turkey wings (~2 whole wings)
- 1 large onion
- ½ bell pepper
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. roasted chili powder (or cayenne pepper or chili powder)
- ½ tbsp. paprika
- black pepper
- 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
- olive oil
For the sauce:
- 50 g unsalted butter
- ½ bell pepper
- 1 large onion
- 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 400 ml chicken broth (can be replaced with vegetable broth)
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ tsp. paprika
- 2 cloves of garlic
Instructions
- Place the turkey wings in a baking dish, sprinkle with onion and garlic powder, roasted chili powder, paprika, drizzle with olive oil and set aside
- Peel and slice the onion into half rings and the sweet pepper into long slices.
- Add half of the sliced vegetables to the turkey, fill with water, cover the mold with foil and bake for 1 hour and 25 minutes at 150 °C (300 °F). After baking, drain the juice into a separate container.
- Heat the butter in a skillet, add the remaining vegetables, and season with two kinds of paprika. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, then add the flour and fry, stirring, for about another minute.
- In 2-3 add the remaining juice from the baking process, stirring the contents of the pan well.
- Add the broth, also in several additions, stirring constantly. Add salt and pepper to taste, bring to a boil, add the thyme leaves and remove from the heat.
- Pour the sauce into the baking dish, spread the vegetables so that they are covered with the sauce, pour the sauce over the wings and place in the oven for another 30-35 minutes at 200 °C (400 °F).
