Smoked Turkey Carbonara with Leeks and Grape Tomatoes

Wild turkey is lean and can easily dry out and become tough. A few hours soaking in a brine helps the meat retain moisture during the smoking process. The combination of herbs in the rub works well for sandwiches, soups, cold turkey salads or pasta dishes like the one featured here. In this cream cheese version of a carbonara sauce, the smoky flavor of the meat is echoed in the sauce by using some of the juices from the smoked meat.

smoked_turkey_carbonara

Serves: 4

Time: 30-40 minutes

6 oz. dry pasta (mini penne or linguine)

10 oz. Smoked Wild Turkey Breast, sliced 1/8” thick then torn into bite-size pieces

8 slices bacon

2 Tbsp. reserved bacon fat

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 red bell pepper, 1/4” dice

1 medium leek, sliced into ½” rings

¾ c. dry white wine4 oz. full fat cream cheese, at room temperature

1 egg

¾ c. chicken stock

¼ c. reserved broth from smoked turkey (or additional stock)

1 ½ pints roasted grape tomatoes

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley, plus additional for garnish

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh lemon wedges

Freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425°. Toss grape tomatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper, place on a greased, foil-lined baking sheet, and roast for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until skins turn dark brown and some of the juice in the tomatoes has evaporated. Remove from oven, close foil around the tomatoes and let them cool. Remove any large pieces of tomato skins, if desired.

 Cut bacon into ½” pieces and cook over medium heat in a large sauté pan until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside. Put cream cheese in a medium bowl and whisk in the egg until mixture is smooth; set aside. While bacon cooks, prepare pasta according to package instructions, drain and return to pot to keep warm (off heat). Leave 2 Tbsp. of bacon fat in the sauté pan, return to medium heat, add the leeks, red pepper, garlic and a pinch of salt and cook 2-3 minutes until aromatic. Add white wine, stock and reserved smoked broth, bring to a boil and let cook until reduced by almost half, stirring occasionally. When broth has reduced, lower heat to medium-low and whisk in the cream cheese mixture, stirring constantly and quickly. Mixture will coat vegetables and begin to thicken. Add turkey and most of the bacon, stirring to combine and coat with sauce, then add the roasted tomatoes and chopped parsley. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve garnished with additional chopped parsley, remaining bacon bits, a wedge of fresh lemon and a few pieces of shaved Parmesan cheese.

Sharing is an expression of generosity, caring, unselfishness and gratitude. As children we’re taught to share our toys. As responsible, ethical hunters, we share for many of the same reasons. Sharing meat from a successful hunt is one way to thank a landowner for permission to hunt his property. I know several hunters who donate the first deer taken every year to Hunters for the Hungry (www.h4hungry.org). This worthwhile non-profit organization takes venison donated through participating meat processors and turns it into hundreds of thousands of meals every year for Virginians in need of healthy meat. Since H4H began in 1991 over 6.9 million pounds of venison, or 27.7 million quarter-pound servings, has been distributed thanks to hunters and financial contributors whose money assists with processing costs.

 My neighbor’s grandson generously gave me a wild turkey breast. Aside from being grateful for the rare treat, I was pleased to see the next generation of hunters being encouraged to share their success in the field.