Turducken with Creole Gravy

Turducken Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp light brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp tomato powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 The Fresh Market Turducken (about 4 pounds)
• ¼ c chicken broth

Creole Gravy Ingredients:

• ½ small yellow onion, roughly chopped
• 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
• ½ small green bell pepper, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 2 tbsp neutral cooking oil
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp tomato powder
• 3 c chicken broth
• 1 cup drained petite diced tomatoes, from a 28 oz. can
• 2 tbsp peri peri sauce, such as Nando's brand
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ¼ c thinly sliced green onions

Preheat oven to 375°F with oven rack positioned in middle of oven. Combine butter, salt, sugar, pepper, onion powder and tomato powder in small bowl and stir to form paste. Pat turducken dry and smear with butter mixture to coat evenly.

Place turducken on wire rack over foil-lined rimmed baking pan. Tent loosely with foil and place in preheated oven, cooking for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook about 1 hour and 30 minutes, until thermometer registers 165°F when inserted into the thickest portion of the meat. Remove to cutting board to rest, tented with foil, for 15 minutes.

While turducken cooks, prepare Creole gravy. Combine onion, celery, bell pepper, parsley, garlic cloves, and lemon juice in food processor and pulse until very finely chopped, about 15 times. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high. Add onion mixture and cook until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add flour, paprika and tomato powder, and stir to combine.

Cook until mixture darkens in color, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes, peri peri sauce, bay leaf and salt and pepper. Bring to simmer and cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in green onions. Serve alongside turducken.