Recipe adapted from AverageBetty.com

Ingredients:

Ingredients for Cajun Spice Rub:

  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

Ingredients for Turkey Cavity Filling:

  • 1 crisp apple
  • 1 jalapeno pepper
  • 1 green onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon Cajun Spice Rub
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Ingredients for Turkey Base:

  • 1 medium carrot
  • 1 rib celery
  • 1/2 medium onion

Other Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons shmaltz (chicken or duck), or olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon olive or canola oil

NOTES:

This recipe is for an 8-10 pound turkey. Cajun Spice Rub makes about 3 TBSP. For a larger bird, double or triple the Cajun Spice Rub. Consider serving with Sweet and Spicy Cornbread Dressing.

Directions

Prepare the turkey

  1. Rinse turkey with cold water and completely pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
  2. Roughly chop carrot, onion and celery for turkey base, and place in bottom of roasting pan.
  3. Place turkey on top of vegetables, breast side up.

Prepare the cavity filling

  1. Cut apple into large pieces, seed and cut jalapeno into strips, dice green onion and halve garlic cloves.
  2. Heat one teaspoon oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.  Add all ingredients.
  3. Toss to coat and saute just until fragrant and tender, about 5 minutes.
  4. With tongs, remove ingredients from pan and insert most of the mixture into body cavity and a small amount into neck cavity.
  5. Tuck wings under turkey to secure neck flap.
  6. Tie legs together with butcher string.

Season the turkey

  1. Combine all ingredients for Cajun Spice Rub in a clean, dry bowl and set aside.
  2. Melt shmaltz and brush all exposed area of the turkey.
  3. Generously coat turkey with spice rub mixture.

Roast the turkey

  1. Place seasoned, filled turkey into a preheated 325(F) oven for 1.5 hours or about 12-15 minutes per pound.
  2. Cook until internal temperature is 165F.
  3. Allow bird to rest 20 minutes or more before carving.
  4. A spicy gravy can be made with roasting pan juices.