Harts Kitchen
Learn by Harts
Talking Turkey
For your best ever bird, go with a traditional bronze
turkey and carve it correctly
T
Kelly’s Eye –
here’s no point being all bah humbug
about it. While there are some fantastic
alternatives (see p14), for many of us it’s not
Christmas unless there’s a turkey for dinner.
If you’re not convinced it could be down to
the quality of the bird you’ve been subjected to
in Christmases past. Many of the commercially
produced turkeys you buy in supermarkets
are intensively bred and reared to keep the
price low. More than that, the white turkey
breeds are favoured for being quick growing
and easier to pluck rather than for quality. This
means you can lose out on flavour and end up
with a turkey that is full of water too.
Enter strutting proudly and gobbling for all
it’s worth, the KellyBronze. This unique breed
was developed in the 1980s by Paul Kelly and
his family at their farm in Essex with an eye
on quality not cost. Saving the bronze breed of
turkey from extinction, their birds are grown
to full maturity, allowed to roam free and then
hand plucked and hung in the traditional way
on the farm when they are ready to eat, just in
time for Christmas.
Hold the wing by the tip. Cut it at the
The results have won the KellyBronze a host
of high-profile fans including Delia, Gordon
midsection. (then do the same again to
and Jamie – any cook in fact that prizes the
the other wing).
award-winning flavour and tenderness of a
turkey that’s been farmed in
the right way.
Of course, to make the most
of your turkey this Christmas,
it’s important to carve it
Hold the leg by the end knuckle. Cut through the
properly. Managing Director
Paul Kelly is the current
skin between the leg & the body and twist off. (then
Guinness World Record
do the same again to the other leg).
holder for the fastest carving
of a turkey and knows more
than most how to enjoy this
delicious bird.
How to carve your turkey
1. Wings off first
2. Legs off next
HARTS
TEAM TIP
Use a muffin tin to cook
your stuffing in, creating
individual portions that
are of an equal size.
Jo
20
www.hartsofstur.com