Making your own deli turkey meat is a cost-effective and enjoyable alternative to store-bought options. This Deli Turkey Recipe is simple to follow and lets you customize the flavors to your liking!

Creating deli meats at home is easier than you might think. The versatility of deli turkey allows you to use it in sandwiches, salads, or hot dishes. The meat can also be stored for extended periods, maintaining its flavor and quality even when frozen.

While making deli turkey may require some time, the preparation and roasting stages are straightforward. The key is allowing the turkey to rest and chill, enhancing the flavors. Overnight chilling can further enhance the taste profile of the meat.

Performing prep work a day ahead of roasting and letting the turkey chill for an extended period can yield optimal results in terms of flavor. This comprehensive recipe provides a detailed guide, including equipment, ingredients, method, and nutritional information.

Other Thanksgiving Recipes That You Can Try

• Cornbread Dressing With Sausage And Fennel
• Angel Biscuits
• Smashed Baby Red Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Green Beans
• Sweet Potato Biscuits
• Pimento Cheese Sausage Balls
• Classic Candied Yams With Marshmallows
• Classic Bread Dressing
• Turkey Salad
• Golden Sweet Cornbread

What Equipment Will You Need To Make Deli Turkey?

• Bowl – For preparing the spice rub.
• Measuring Spoons – To ensure accurate ingredient portions.
• Whisk – For mixing the rub thoroughly.
• Cutting Board – To coat and tie up the turkey.
• Large Knife – For slicing the roasted turkey.
• Kitchen Twine – For tying up the turkey before chilling.
• Scissors – To remove twine after chilling.
• Plastic Wrap – For wrapping the chilled turkey.
• Baking Tray – For roasting the turkey.

Roasting the turkey in the oven requires a deep tray to hold chicken stock and drippings for basting.

A wire rack is placed on top of the baking tray to collect juices while roasting the turkey.

A basting dropper is used to take drippings from the tray and baste the turkey.

After roasting, cover the turkey with aluminum foil to distribute juices evenly throughout the meat.

Use tongs to transfer the hot turkey safely.

A probe thermometer helps monitor the turkey’s temperature to prevent it from becoming dry.

How Much Time Will You Need To Make Deli Turkey?

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

Resting Time: 8 Hours

Cooking Time: 1 Hour

Total Time: 9 Hours 15 Minutes

What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Deli Turkey?

• Turkey Breast: Boneless, skinless, 1.5 to 3 pounds
• Chicken Stock: 1 cup for basting
• Salt: To season the turkey breast

For The Spice Rub

• Butter: 8 tablespoons for marinade
• Paprika: 2 teaspoons for flavor
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Cumin: 1 teaspoon each for added flavor
• Chili Powder, Mustard Powder, Black Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon each for spiciness
• Rosemary and Thyme: 1/2 teaspoon each for herbal notes
• Honey and Light Brown Sugar: 1 teaspoon each for sweetness

Steps To Make Deli Turkey

1. Make The Spice Rub

Combine all spice rub ingredients in a bowl and mix well to create the rub.

2. Prepare The Turkey

Rinse and pat dry the turkey, apply spice rub thoroughly, and tie with kitchen twine.

Wrap the turkey in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

3. Prepare Everything For Roasting

Allow the turkey to come to room temperature for 30 minutes, then preheat the oven to 350°F.

Add stock to a baking tray, place a wire rack, season turkey with salt, and bake in the oven.

When your turkey breast is in the oven, don’t forget to regularly baste it with the drippings and chicken stock collected in the tray below. Using a basting dropper can be very helpful for this task. Simply draw some of the liquid into the dropper and then distribute it over the turkey. Repeat this process every 20 minutes.

It’s important to ensure that the stock in the tray doesn’t dry out. If you notice it drying up, add more stock to keep it moist. This should take about 1 to 1.5 hours for the turkey breast to roast completely.

After the one-hour mark, consider inserting a probe thermometer into the turkey to check the internal temperature. If the thermometer shows 160 degrees Fahrenheit, your turkey is done and ready to be taken out of the oven.

5. Carving Turkey

After your turkey is cooked and out of the oven, use a pair of tongs to transfer it to a clean surface or a cutting board. Loosely cover the turkey with aluminum foil to allow the juices to distribute evenly.

However, avoid covering the turkey if it has skin, as it can make the crispy skin soggy. After 10-15 minutes, uncover the turkey. Carefully cut off the kitchen twine with scissors and discard it. Your deli turkey is now ready to be carved, sliced, or shredded according to your preference.

In What Ways Can The Deli Turkey Be Used?

• Sandwiches – Delicious sandwiches are a classic way to use deli turkey, whether hot or cold.
• Salads – Deli turkey adds flavor to salads, allowing you to stick to traditional recipes or experiment with new ones.
• Charcuterie Boards – Include homemade deli turkey on charcuterie boards with cheese and crackers instead of store-bought cold cuts.
• Quiches – Try making a quiche with deli turkey and your favorite cheese for a tasty snack.
• Pasta – Make turkey pasta dishes or turkey lasagna for a unique twist.
• Omelets – Enjoy turkey and cheese omelets for a hearty breakfast option.
• Calzones – Use turkey in calzones along with other Italian meats for a flavorful filling.
• Casseroles – Add deli turkey to casseroles for a tasty twist.
• Quesadillas – Swap chicken or steak for turkey in quesadillas for a delicious change.
• Stir Fries – Cube turkey for Chinese and Asian stir fry dishes.

Nutritional Information

What Will The Deli Turkey Look And Taste Like?

Many of us don’t often make deli meats at home, so you might be curious about how your deli turkey will turn out once it’s done. This is especially true if you’re making it for the first time. Let’s describe what you can expect from the final product with this recipe.

After cooking, your deli turkey will resemble a roast turkey breast with a charred, golden-brown top and a delightful caramelization from sugar and honey. When sliced, it will look like any other deli cold cut.

If cooked correctly with proper basting, the turkey should be juicy when bitten into. The spice rub ingredients will create a balanced mix of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors.

Recipe Card

Deli Turkey Recipe

Deli turkey meat is truly delicious and extremely versatile, but also expensive quite often. Instead of buying it from outside, you can easily make some deli turkey at home by simply following this recipe!

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Bowl

Measuring Spoons

Whisk

The tools you need for this recipe are a cutting board, large knife, kitchen twine, kitchen scissors, plastic wrap, baking tray, wire rack, basting dropper, aluminum foil, tongs, and a food temperature probe.

For The Spice Rub:
1. Mix all the ingredients for the spice rub and set them aside.

For The Deli Turkey:
1. Rinse the turkey, dry it on a cutting board.
2. Apply the spice rub all over the turkey.
3. Fold the turkey in half lengthwise and tie kitchen twine around it.
4. Wrap the turkey in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours.
5. After 8 hours, let the turkey rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Place kitchen stock in a baking tray and add a wire rack on top.
8. Remove the plastic wrap from the turkey, place it on the wire rack, and sprinkle salt.
9. Bake the turkey for 1 hour 15 minutes, basting every 20 minutes with the stock and drippings.
10. Check the internal temperature, once it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the turkey is done.
11. Let the turkey rest covered with aluminum foil for 15 minutes.
12. Remove the kitchen twine and carve, shred, or slice the turkey as desired.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
– Can changes be made to the spice rub recipe?
Yes, you can customize the spice rub to your liking, but the taste may vary.

– Why is it necessary to baste the turkey every 20 minutes?
Basting helps prevent the turkey from drying out during cooking.

– Can turkey with skin be used for this recipe?
Skinless turkey breast is recommended for better results, but skin-on turkey can also be used.

– Can this recipe be used to roast a whole turkey?
Yes, you can adapt the spice rub for a whole turkey by adjusting the ingredient quantities.

– How long will the deli turkey meat last?
Properly stored, homemade deli turkey can last 4-5 days in the refrigerator and up to three months in the freezer.

– Is deli turkey meat healthy?
Yes, deli turkey meat is a healthy protein source with various nutrients.

Conclusion:
Making this homemade deli turkey is easy and delicious. Once you try it, you may never go back to store-bought deli turkey again!

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