Turkey necks are a tasty treat that make a good snack food. It takes time to pick all the meat from between the neck bones, so it’s a snack that lasts a long time. Snacks that take time to eat are especially good for people who are trying to lose weight. The more you have to work at eating, the less time you have to eat!
If you are lucky enough to live in an area that sells turkey necks, pick up a couple packages and give them a try. They are very easy to cook. The best method to cook turkey necks is to simmer them. The necks will come out tender and you will also have a nice stock that you can then use to make a pot of homemade soup.
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Start by rinsing your turkey necks and cutting off any fat. Then put them in a pot that is large enough to the necks are only filling it about half way and not more. Then cover the necks with out 1 inch of water. Put the pot on your burner turned to high heat, cover the pot and let it come to a boil.
While you are waiting for the pot to boil, you can cut up one or two onions to add to the pot. Just peel the onions then quarter them. You can also add a couple cloves of garlic to the pot. The onion and garlic will add flavor to the necks and will also make a good stock if you are planning on making soup afterward.
You can also add salt a pepper to the pot, along with other spices you might like. Some good options are lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, basil, poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, allspice, or whatever you feel like using for seasonings. Just add your seasonings to the pot then continue to watch it as it comes to a boil.
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When the stock comes to a boil, lift the lid a bit to let the steam escape and turn the burner down to medium-low. Let the stock come to a simmer. Check the simmer in about 5 minutes. If the pot is boiling too much, turn the heat down a bit. If it’s not simmering, turn the heat up. Once you get to pot to a simmer, cover the pot and let the turkey necks cook for about 90 minutes.
Check the pot every now and then to see if you need to add water. If you add water, make sure you add some boiling water. If you add cold water, you will lose your simmer. Just boil some water on the side then add as much as needed to the pot.
After 90 minutes, check one of the necks for doneness. Take some tongs and pick up one of the necks. If the neck breaks, then for sure it’s done. If it does not break but the meat pulls off easily, then it’s done enough to eat, but might be just a bit more chewy. Some people prefer it cooked this way.
Try eating your turkey necks as a snack and have a little side dish of hot mustard to dip the meat into. It’s good!
