 | Rod Baumberger
is a Fitness Specialist at Health Strategies/Life Strategies Foundation. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Fitness Management from Newman University. In addition to his other duties, Rodney is an education coordinator in pulmonary rehabilitation and is a senior initiative coordinator. You may reach Rodney at Health Strategies, (316) 651-8015, or at the facility at 551 N Hillside, Wichita, KS 67214. |
Diet & Nutrition
2005-11-01 16:19:00
What is ‘turducken’?
: I've heard John Madden mention "a traditional Turducken Thanksgiving". What is Turducken?
ANSWER: Turducken is an eating experience!A turducken is a deboned turkey stuffed with a deboned duck which itself is stuffed with a small deboned chicken. The cavity of the chicken and the rest of the gaps are filled with at the very least, highly seasoned breadcrumb mixture, although some versions have a different stuffing for each bird. Imagine using 'shrimp etouffee' as a stuffing, or other possibilities include crawfish, spicy Cajun andouille sausage, oyster, broccoli and cheese, and sweet or jalapeno cornbread.The result is a relatively solid, albeit layered, piece of poultry, suitable for deep frying or slow cooking by braising, roasting, grilling, or barbecuing. Turducken fans say that it is complex and usually quite agreeable in texture and flavor, as the juices of the turkey and chicken baste the duck, and the more robust duck bastes the turkey and chicken.In turducken, the skin of each layer of turkey, chicken and duck holds firm and keeps the stuffing in place. Skin also holds in moisture. The dish is carved quickly and the leftovers, when chilled, are firm and well-suited to a buffet.Turducken is a uniquely American development and is believed to be Acadian in origin, although it may also have originated in eastern Texas or northern Louisiana. While such elaborate layering of whole animals can be documented well back into the Middle Ages of Europe, some people credit Cajun-creole fusion chef Paul Prudhomme with creating the chimerical dish. However, no one has ever verified his claim. In recent years, the turducken was brought to popular attention due to its frequent mention by American football announcer John Madden.
