"BLUE THUNDER" TURKEY DRUMSTICKS

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Provided by Food Network

Time 2h10m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

6 turkey drumsticks
Marinade:
2 cups cranberries
2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 to 5 fresh sage leaves
10 to 15 whole allspice
10 to 15 whole cloves
1 whole cinnamon stick
1 cup salt
1 tablespoon onion juice
1 tablespoon garlic juice
1 tablespoon hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
1 tablespoon chile sauce (recommended: Siracha)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 gallon beer, divided
2 applewood smoking chips (recommended: Bradley Apple Bisquettes)
2 to 3 gallons peanut oil

Steps:

  • For the turkey: Remove the tendons from each drumstick (or ask your local butcher to do it for you): With a flexible boning knife, make a cut at the knob end of the drumstick to separate the tendons from the bone. Locate the major tendon that resembles a cooked piece of fettuccini and follow it up the drumstick with your boning knife to cut it out. Repeat for the 3 to 4 other major tendons. Using a pair of pliers, grab and pull out the minor tendon that resembles a cooked piece of spaghetti. Repeat for the 5 to 6 other minor tendons. Scrape the boning knife against the bone to clean up any leftover meat.
  • For the marinade: Place the cranberries, rosemary, sage, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a large plastic container and add 1 to 2 cups boiling water just to cover. Allow to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • For the brine: In a large bowl, dissolve the salt with 1 to 2 cups boiling water, whisking until the salt has dissolved.
  • For the injection mixture: In a 16-ounce pint glass, combine the garlic juice, onion juice, hot sauce, chile sauce, Worcestershire sauce and stir. Fill the glass with beer and stir.
  • Add the marinade mixture to the brine mixture, and then pour in the remaining beer to cool it down.
  • Inject each drumstick a couple of times with the injection mixture using a meat injector. Place the drumsticks in the marinade and add 1 gallon cold water to cover. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Preheat the smoker to 250 to 300 degrees F.
  • Remove the drumsticks from the marinade and place in the smoker. Place the applewood chips in the smoker and smoke for 30 to 40 minutes. When they are done, they will have a light golden color and an internal temperature of 110 to 120 degrees F.
  • Fill a turkey fryer with the peanut oil until it reaches the maximum capacity line. Light the burner and heat the oil until it is between 340 to 360 degrees F.
  • Carefully drop each turkey drumstick into the oil and fry until the internal temperature of the drumstick registers 160 to 165 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oil and place on a paper towel on a wire cooling rack. Allow a resting time of 10 minutes before serving.

Dragon Lightning
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These drumsticks were a bit bland. I think I needed to add more spices.


Abinash Mahato
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These drumsticks were very flavorful. I loved the combination of blue cheese and bacon.


SS KILLER
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These drumsticks were a bit too spicy for my taste. I would probably use less cayenne pepper next time.


Umar Qatri
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I'm not a big fan of blue cheese, but I really enjoyed these drumsticks. The bacon and ranch dressing helped to balance out the blue cheese flavor.


NOSHEEN SAMI
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These drumsticks were the perfect addition to my Super Bowl party. They were easy to make and everyone loved them.


Md Shorv
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So easy to make and so delicious! I will definitely be making these again.


Nicholas Hester
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Amazing!!!


Gwyn TV
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These drumsticks were a bit dry. I think I overcooked them. Next time I will cook them for a shorter amount of time.


Kathy Heyns
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The blue cheese and bacon flavors were a bit too strong for my taste. I would probably use less blue cheese dressing next time.


Ramon “Ray” Ehrig
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These drumsticks were easy to make and very tasty. I didn't have any blue cheese dressing, so I used ranch dressing instead. They were still delicious.


Shopnill Shuvo
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I followed the recipe exactly and the drumsticks turned out great! The blue cheese and bacon gave them a lot of flavor. I served them with mashed potatoes and green beans, and everyone loved them.


Kayla Dinger
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These turkey drumsticks were a hit at our family dinner! The blue cheese and bacon flavors were a perfect combination, and the drumsticks were cooked to perfection. We will definitely be making this recipe again.