6 interesting turkeys to try this Christmas

It is that time of the year, and roast turkey has become one of the must-haves for Christmas here.

However, not everyone is a fan as the meat of bird can be quite dry if not cooked well.

So how do you please and impress everyone at your Christmas party?

Well, we have a list of six turkeys cooked in different ways - mostly Asian - that you can choose from.

*Note: This list is in no particular order.

1) Smoked turkey

This would impress your grandmother who would only eat Chinese food. The meat is so tender that the texture is similar to chicken. The smoky taste and marinade is resembles that of soy sauce chicken. Imagine eating turkey spicy chili sauce and fragrant green ginger sauce, the taste is so similar to chicken that this is one way that is recommended.

Price: $138 ($16 per a la carte order)
When: Until Dec 31. (Minimum 3 working days advance order)
Order a la carte at Peach Blossoms, Marina Mandarin Singapore or call 6845-1118 to place an order for a whole turkey at Peach Blossoms. 

2) Drunken turkey

Turkey and alcohol are no strangers, with dozens of recipes for beer can turkeys. Peach Blossoms puts a Chinese spin on their drunken turkey with Chinese wine and wolfberries. They don't hold back on the hua diao wine in the sauce, so eat it together with the cold dish.

Price: $138 ($16 per a la carte order)
When: Until Dec 31. (Minimum 3 working days advance order)
Order a la carte at Peach Blossoms, Marina Mandarin Singapore or call 6845-1118 to place an order for a whole turkey at Peach Blossoms.

3) Rock salt-baked turkey

Another turkey dish cooked Chinese style. The turkey is slow-baked in rock salt for two hours and served with a Shanghai vegetable rice that also comes with shrimps and ginger and chili sauces.

Price: $188 (serves 8 to 12 people)
When: Until Dec 26. (Minimum 3 working days advance order, last order by noon on Dec 20)
Order at Goodwood Park Hotel or call 6730-1867/8.

4) Yuletide turkey

This roast turkey may seem to be cooked and served the traditional way with chestnut and cranberry sauce, but it hides a decadent secret - foie gras stuffing! This festive season is the best reason to indulge.

Price: $168 (4.5-5kg) and $288 (9-10kg)
When: Until Dec 25.
Order at Singapore Marriott Hotel or call 6831-4605 for enquiries.

5) Roast turkey with chestnut stuffing and masala sauce

This is another traditional turkey with a twist. If you love York Hotel's Treasured Flavours of Singapore menu, you will want to give this dish a try.

The Masala Sauce is prepared using the same recipe as their Crab Masala and Chicken Masala, which includes spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and fennel seeds.

Price: $125++ (approx. 4 to 5kg before cooking)
When: Until Dec 31. (Minimum 3 working days advance order)
Order at White Rose Cafe, York Hotel or call 6830 1156.

6) Boneless Sous-Vide Cooked Turkey stuffed with Cotecchino, Porchetta and Duck Leg Confit

Move over, Turducken. This dish from Da Paolo has a deboned USDA-certified free range young turkey stuffed with traditional Italian Cotecchino sausage and slices of duck leg confit that are wrapped with a slice of slow-roasted Porchetta (a classic Italian pork roast). Eat it together with the sweet fig sauce with Brandy.

Price: $278 (approx. 4kg whole bird, serves 10 - 12 persons)
When: Last order for Christmas Eve - 21 December 2013; New Year's Eve - 28 December 2013 (Minimum 3 working days advance order)
Order at www.dapaolo.com.sg/gastronomia/festive or call 6474 8411 during office hours.

natlim@sph.com.sg