If there's one meal everyone loves, it may just be a caesar salad. We like to take it up a notch by, for starters, trading the classic chicken topping for wild-caught turkey (or store bought if your spring didn't include bagging a Tom). Then, we've added a rustic twist on the classic crowdpleaser by leveraging the art of smoking the turkey. The addition of delicate smokiness adds layers of flavor and depth to your favorite store-bought Caesar dressing, pairing perfectly with its tangy creaminess.
Whether you're headed to a summer cookout or just looking for a light and fresh meal mid-week, this Smoked Wild Turkey Caesar Salad is so tasty, it might become your dinnertime staple.
Smoked Wild Turkey Caesar Salad
Salad Ingredients
- 1 wild turkey breast
- 2 teaspoons blackening seasoning
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, (or 2 small heads romaine)
- Parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved
- Croutons
- Caesar Dressing
Brine Ingredients
- 1 quart of cold water
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Recipe Directions
- To make the bring, in a large glass bowl, combine salt, brown sugar and water. Submerge the turkey breast into the bowl. Refrigerate for 12-24 hours.
- After 24 hours, remove the breast and rinse with cold water. Pat dry the breast and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Pre-heat your smoker to 225°F.
- Rub the blackening seasoning into the wild turkey breast using olive oil.
- Smoke the turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F, about 4 hours. At the half way mark, baste with melted butter
- Remove from smoker and cut into bite sized pieces
- Assemble the salad with romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, croutons, then the wild turkey. Add Caesar dressing to taste and toss.
