This baked turkey recipe is very easy to make and full of flavor. This dish is usually served in Colombia and Latin America during the holiday season. I like to served this turkey with potato salad, rice with coca-cola and prune sauce to drizzle over the cooked turkey.
I did not grow up eating turkey (pavo) on Christmas Eve in Colombia, and of course, we did not celebrate Thanksgiving, as it is an American holiday. My family always made tamales, lechona and pernil de cerdo (pork leg) for our main dishes during the holidays. But Pavo Asado Navideño is very popular around the country and traditionally served on Christmas Eve in Colombian homes. Each family and cook has their own turkey and stuffing recipe. I got this recipe from one of my aunts who makes this turkey for special occasions.
Pavo Asado Navideño (Christmas Turkey and Latin-Style Stuffing)
Ingredients
Turkey
- 1 (12-14 lb.) turkey, thawed
- 10 scallions, finely chopped
- 30 garlic cloves, crushed
- ¼ cup ground cumin
- 3 teaspoons ground achiote
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 7 cups beer
- 2 salted butter at room temperature
Stuffing
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onions
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon ground achiote
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ pound ground pork
- ½ pound ground chorizo
- 1 cup chopped prunes
- 1 cup sliced green olives
- ⅓ cup chopped almonds
- ½ teaspoon ground oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 cups bread crumbs
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ½ cup apple sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- To prepare the marinade, mix the scallions, garlic, cumin, achiote, salt, pepper and beer.
- Pour the marinade over the turkey and massage over the entire turkey and let it marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
- To cook the turkey: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lower the rack to the lowest position.
- Tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Rub the butter inside and on the skin of the turkey, then stuff it with the rest of the butter. Place the turkey, breast side down, in a roasting pan on a rack. Pour two cups of water in the pan and place in the oven.
- Roast for 1 hour. Add additional water to the pan if needed and roast another 45-60 minutes. The interior temperature of the turkey should reach 160 degree F in the thigh area. If the turkey starts getting too dark on top, cover it loosely with foil. Allow the turkey to rest at least 20 minutes before slicing.
Stuffing
- Place a sauce pan on medium-high heat and add the butter and oil.
- Add the onion, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add the beef, pork, chorizo and brown, stirring occasionally, then add the cumin, achiote, cinnamon, oregano, wine, olives, nuts and prunes. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring often.
- Add the bread crumbs and eggs, stir well and cook for another 7 minutes. Add the beef broth, apple sauce and mix well. Cook for about 30 minutes more.
Nutrition
This latin-style turkey stuffing has a wonderful combination of textures and a delicious sweet and savory flavor. The stuffing recipe usually has different kind meats, fruit, olives, nuts, spices, herbs, bread crumbs and eggs. The stuffing can be cooked on the stove top, in the oven, or in the turkey. I don't like to stuff my turkey, so l usually cook my stuffing on the stove top and serve it on the side. Feel free to cook your stuffing the way you prefer. Buen provecho!
More turkey recipes you may want to try:
ela@GrayApron
Your chicken looks amazing! I like when the skin wants to come off by itself. Thanks for sharing. ela 🙂
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz
In Canada we do not celebrate Thanksgiving like in the US either and it earlier in the year. We do traditionally have turkey like you at Christmas but rarely with stuffing for some reasons. Your stuffing sounds amazing thought! really flavorful.
Joan Nova
Love that stuffing!
Belinda @zomppa
Looks like Thanksgiving's going to be a great one at your house!
Joanne
What a beautifully cooked bird and some great stuffing to go with it!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
I like the stuffing! The turkey looks beautifully roasted.
Ena Hussein
I am going to try this recipe for Christmas
Karina
Hi!! How much of the butter? It just says 2 salted butter.
Thank you in advance!!
Natalia
Erica, I want to try this recipe it looks really good, but i just have a question will there be a big difference in taste if i leave out the olives and prunes, and if so is there anything else i can substitute them for?
Erica Dinho
Hi Natalia,
Just omit them.
Charise
This looks AMAZING! I am making my boyfriend a Colombian Christmas meal this year. What are recommendations to serve along with this delicious turkey?
Thanks!
Erica Dinho
https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/ensalada-rusa-russian-salad/
https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/rice-with-coca-cola-arroz-con-coca-cola/
Alan Bowman
I like the clean taste of "Parsley Thyme and Lemon" stuffing with turkey and if packed into the neck end does not add to the risk of uncooked meat. The lemons that have had the peel shredded can be put inside the body cavity to help keep the meat moist while imparting a delicious lemon flavour to the meat.
Sam
Hi!
This recipe looks fantastic!
Do you have a ballpark for how much salt and pepper I should add? I am from Panama and like my dishes savory!
Lorena Valencia
How much salt?
Erica Dinho
To your taste. I usually add about 1 teaspoon per pound.