While most people associate turkey with the holidays, we’ve made a primer on all the ways turkey can be a year-round staple in your kitchen. It’s a highly versatile protein for any meal.
There’s a fairly common misunderstanding among BC residents that turkey is only for the holidays. Afterall, a whole bird requires hours of preparation, an overwhelming amount of food that can feed up to ten people, and pairs perfectly with seasonal-specific ingredients that lean heavily towards Thanksgiving and Christmas. But we’re here to change your minds by highlighting turkey’s versatility in the kitchen!
There are so many ways you can bring turkey into your diet for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or everyday snacks. Packed full of essential nutrients, especially lean protein, turkey is such a versatile addition for a variety of lifestyles. It’s even a known option for combating obesity and cardiovascular disease. And, thanks to its neutral flavour profile, you can easily spice it up with a variety of herbs!
This keeps your meals highly nutritious and delicious.
First off, let’s talk turkey cuts.
Most people picture an entire bird, ground mince, or sliced meat from the deli when they think about how they’ll purchase turkey products. However, there are a variety of ways you can buy turkey, and we highly recommend speaking with your local grocer or butcher to find out what they offer.
To help expand your idea of the various turkey products, here’s a list of how you might find it at your store: imagine turkey legs, wings, and drumettes; thighs, necks, and breasts; pre-wrapped thigh roasts or breast roasts; turkey scallopini or strips to even pre-prepared kebabs; turkey sausages, meatballs, burger patties, or meatloaf; and even more options!
There are so many ways turkey products make their way onto the shelves, already showcasing the variety of recipes you can make.
Photo: Lemon Thyme Patties
Now that you’ve got an idea about all the ways turkey can be brought into your kitchen, let’s talk about diet. There are many different trends in healthy eating these days like keto, paleo, Whole30, mediterranean, or just meals that focus on lean, high-protein ingredients.
Compared to other meats like pork and beef, turkey is high in protein while remaining leaner in fat. This, paired with the many vital nutrients and vitamins found in every cut of turkey, make it easily amenable to different types of diets. So whatever lifestyle you’re living, turkey can easily meet your needs.
Photo: Whole30 Bacon Turkey Burger
Take this paleo-friendly, gluten free, Whole30 Bacon Turkey Burger served with sweet potato waffles alongside avocado and a poached egg—it’s the perfect breakfast boost for a busy day whether you’re an everyday foodie or a semi-professional athlete.
But if you’ve got picky eaters, there are plenty of ways you can make turkey appealing to even the smallest family members! Think cheesy turkey casseroles, easy chilis, simple turkey bacon mac & cheese with broccoli, and more. You can also pack ground turkey into a savoury breakfast muffin to hide a powerhouse protein for a long day ahead!
Perhaps you’ve heard the old adage that turkey is a dry, flavourless meat, and you’re not sold yet on how it can become a staple in your home… Well we’re here to reverse that rumour because turkey, prepared properly, can be fall-off-the-bone tender and packed with flavour!
It’s an ideal protein substitution to a variety of global and cultural culinary trends due to its lower fat content. Whether making Haitian-style fried turkey wings or a simple udon soup, turkey is an ideal choice because of its health benefits and neutral flavour. So when you’re looking to make a traditional multicultural meal, don’t discount turkey as an option!
Photo: Spicy Turkey Udon Soup
Overall, there are so many reasons turkey can fit into your lifestyle and diet, and easily compliment meal preferences and flavour profiles. You can find turkey products in a variety of cuts, and use recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks at any time of day.
So what are you waiting for? Go explore how to bring more turkey into your kitchen!
And if you need inspiration, please do check out our recipe page on our website. Don’t forget to let us know when you make a delicious everyday turkey meal by tagging us on Facebook and Instagram with #TogetherAtTheTable and #ThinkTurkey to be featured in our campaign and future ads!