Turducken
By aubrey
@averygirl72 (37763)
Philippines
December 22, 2016 4:48am CST
I'm surprised to know that there is a dish like this that exist. I learned this from a member here in myLot who will have it this New Year. I think it's messy to do since you need to stuff and debone three kinds of birds. I never heard of it here but it maybe it made its way here also but it's not just popular. Have you tried a turducken? Does it taste good? Have you made one before?
3 people like this
5 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Dec 16
This is just a variation on something which is sometimes called a 'ballotine' or a 'gallantine', a 'royal roast' or a 'roti sans pareil' ('roast without equal') The full version can have a dozen or more birds in descending sizes, all de-boned and packed one inside the other, a very time-consuming process for the chef!
De-boning a bird is a special art which not many people do these days. I have never tried it (and wouldn't want to, really) though I have once had a galantine which, as far as I remember, was a turkey stuffed with a chicken stuffed with a pheasant. It also contained some ham and stuffing in between the layers. It was served cold and was very good, the different flavours and textures going together very well.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Dec 16
@averygirl72 One using 17 birds is recorded in 1807. It comprised a bustard (a very large bird related to the turkey) stuffed with a turkey, a goose, a pheasant, a chicken, a duck, a guinea fowl, a teal (a kind of duck), a woodcock, a partridge, a plover, a lapwing, a quail, a thrush, a lark, an ortolan bunting and a garden warbler.
I hate to imagine how long it took to prepare that lot! It would be illegal now to use many of them because they are protected species (in England, at least).
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Dec 16
@averygirl72 I don't know whose idea it was first but I believe that the Romans (who had plenty of slaves to cook for them and also had a taste for lavish meals) used to do this. They probably used a peacock or a swan as the largest bird and, of course, they didn't have turkeys but they had geese and ducks and all of the smaller birds.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37763)
• Philippines
22 Dec 16
Very good answer! I heard of chicken gallantine here in the Philippines. I cannot believe there's a full version of that where you can have a dozen or more birds in a descending size, what the...? But I think it's perfect for a big feast where there are many guest.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
22 Dec 16
Gluttony depends on how much a person eats! One or two slices only would serve me well enough and there's so much meat in a galantine that it would feed a LOT of people!
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
23 Dec 16
there's "piecaken" too (cake with pie in it)
i personally wouldn't bother making turducken myself.too much mess and work involved.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Dec 16
@averygirl72 I think we can simply buy a ready made pie and pour cake batter on it. it looks easier to do.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Dec 16
@averygirl72 I think cherry pie, pineapple pie or maybe egg pie may do. i
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37763)
• Philippines
25 Dec 16
@CaptAlbertWhisker Savory pie? not sweet pie? piecaken?
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Dec 16
it is a delicious explosion of flavors and eating it easy easy because its boneless but it is a pain to cook. it is a mess to make. i thought relleno chicken is complicated but this one is harder because you debone 3 birds.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Dec 16
@averygirl72 Turkey resembles young pork with a bit of chicken. Some malls in the US sell turkducken frozen and ready to bake.
@averygirl72 (37763)
• Philippines
25 Dec 16
Oh I see. They say the texture and flavor is really nice. It's marinated and roasted so it's flavorful. I haven't tasted turkey. Does it taste better than chicken or just the same?
@jhechorain (1198)
• Susanville, California
22 Dec 16
I have heard of this just recently before. I have never tried it but I don't know if I would like to either. The three birds have different taste and maybe they won't be good together? I hope it is though when you decide to make one.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32507)
• Calgary, Alberta
25 Dec 16
it is delicious but making it will make you cry because it is a lot of work.
