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The 11 Best Turkey Recipes for Thanksgiving Include Cognac, Pancetta, Curry, and Other Wildly Delicious Options
Tired of the same old bird? The Internet has your back. Turkey is the obvious choice for Thanksgiving's main dish and with good reason — a well-browned bird is freaking delicious. But that doesn't mean you can't broaden your entree horizons by both incorporating with surprising flavors and cooking up alternative proteins. We surveyed the foodosphere, from burgeoning bloggers to industry big wigs (thanks, Martha Stewart) and came up with quite the array of recipes to fulfill your experimental side. Roasted persimmons? Pork and pancetta stuffing? Sriracha ? There's plenty to be thankful for here. (You're welcome.)
Image: thebittenword/Flickr
Roast Turkey with Pears and Sage
This turkey from Adventures in Cooking is both classic and decadent in all the right ways. A glaze of white wine, honey, and duck fat? I'm totally there.
Image: Adventures in Cooking
Mario Batali's Stuffed Turkey
Mario Batali's turkey is stuffed with pork, pancetta, chestnuts, prunes, and cheese — all good and wonderful things.
Image: toolmantim/Flickr
Roasted Quail with Grapes
Turkey is so pedestrian! Try this quail recipe from the Who's Hungry blog instead. These little guys are rubbed with Cognac and olive oil and then roasted with grapes.
Image: naotakem/Flickr
Whole Oven Roasted Turkey with Asian Herbs and Spices
Can't bear to part with your Sriracha — even for just one day? No need. This nontraditional bird from A Spicy Perspective, makes all your fire-breathing Thanksgiving dreams come true with its exotic combination of ginger, garlic, lemongrass, scallions, and, yes (your favorite friend), sriracha.
Image: A Spicy Perspective
Deep Fried Whole Buffalo Turkey
This turkey from Serious Eats is deep fried and then lacquered in a buttery buffalo sauce. Make this and you will have a lot of best friends.
Image: williamhartz/Flickr
Cranberry Glazed Turkey Breast
This cranberry-glazed turkey from Little Leopard Book is sweet, tart, and just plain pretty. Serve it for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or both.
Image: Little Leopard Book
Massaman-Curry Turkey Osso Buco
This exotic take on turkey from Food and Wine features peanuts, fish sauce, cilantro, lime, lemongrass, and ginger. With this kind of synergy, you might even make Grandma a believer.
Image: tinou bao/Flickr
Pork with Persimmons and Mustard Greens
Prefer pork? Try this beautiful pork loin from Martha Stewart; it's roasted with persimmons and is served with wilted greens and a sweet Marsala wine reduction. Perfection.
Image: FreeCandy13/Flickr
Sweet Tea and Citrus Brined Turkey
A good brine is the foundation of a good roast turkey. This beautiful tea-brined bird from the Foodie Bride is doing everything right.
Image: Confections of a Foodie Bride
Chile-Roasted Turkey with Chorizo-Corn Bread Stuffing
The ancho chile and garlic rub on this turkey from Food and Wine is a far cry from your mom's traditional sage and rosemary version. But what it lacks in tradition, it more than makes up for in chorizo.
Image: Kevandy/Flickr
Duck Confit with Spicy Pickled Raisins
Really impress your guests with this duck confit from Bon Appetit. The only thing that's more appealing than crispy, mahogany duck legs are crispy, mahogany duck legs adorned with sweet and spicy pickled raisins. A triumph.
Image: AllanThinks/Flickr
More Thanksgiving ideas from Bustle:
