When stripped of their skin and bones, turkey thighs can look a bit, well, naked. But once they're slathered with a spice paste pungent with garlic, chili powder, and cumin, and then grilled, you'll think you're eating the most tender turkey steak ever, cooked well done, of course. And that, right there, is the beauty of turkey thighs: They can handle the heat, and even if the thermometer goes beyond the ideal of 170°F, the thigh meat will still be juicy and delicious.
•Thighs can also be broiled. Arrange them on a foil-lined rimmed sheet pan and broil about 4 to 5 inches from the heat, turning once or twice, until thermometer registers 170°F, 15 to 25 minutes.
Recipe information
Total Time
3 hours (includes marinating)
Yield
Makes 8 servings as part of a larger Thanksgiving meal or 4 as a single main course
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Pull off turkey skin and freeze in a small resealable plastic bag. (You can use the skin to make cracklings for our Shredded Kale Salad with Turkey Skin Cracklings. )
Step 2
Cut out the thigh bone from each thigh and save in another resealable plastic bag in the freezer for a future stock.
Step 3
Mash garlic to a paste with 2 teaspoons salt in a mortar and pestle or mince and mash to a paste with a heavy knife.
Step 4
Whisk together the paste with the chili powder, cumin, and olive oil and spread it all over the thighs in a baking dish. Cover the dish and marinate the thighs, chilled, at least 2 hours.
Step 5
Prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium-high for gas); see Grilling Procedure, below.
Step 6
Oil grill rack, then grill thighs (cover only if using a gas grill), turning once or twice, until thermometer registers 170°F, 15 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a platter and let stand 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Grilling Procedure:
Step 7
Charcoal Grilling Instructions:
Open vents on bottom of grill. Light a large chimney starter full of charcoal (preferably hardwood).Step 8
For Direct-Heat Instructions:
When coals are lit, dump them out across bottom rack, leaving a space free of coals on one side of grill equal to the size of the food to be grilled where food can be moved in case of any flare-ups.Step 9
When charcoal turns grayish white (start checking coals after 15 minutes), the grill will be at its hottest and will then begin to cool off. It will be at the proper medium-hot temperature when you can hold your hand 5 inches above the grill rack (directly over the coals) for 3 to 4 seconds.
Step 10
Gas Grill Instructions:
Preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then adjust heat according to recipe.
