Ingredients

  • 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1/2 white onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced jalapeno
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded turkey
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup Mexican-flavored canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 18 white or yellow corn tortillas
  • Serving suggestion: Serve with Cranberry Salsa, recipe follows
  • Special equipment: toothpicks
  • Cranberry Salsa
  • 1/2 cup canned whole cranberry sauce
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • 1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 white onion coarsely chopped, covered and microwaved for 1 minute
  • 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup diced green bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup Mexican-flavored canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

  • Sweat the onion, garlic, and jalapeno in a saute pan with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
  • Remove from the heat and add to a large bowl.
  • To the bowl, add the shredded turkey, cheese, tomatoes and season with salt, and pepper, to taste.
  • Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
  • Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 10 seconds so they are pliable.
  • Fill the tortillas with a tablespoon of filling and roll into a thin taquito, securing with a toothpick.
  • Keep the taquitos covered with a damp towel before cooking otherwise the corn tortillas will dry out and crack.
  • Heat 2 cups oil in a straight-sided pan to 350 degrees F. Place the taquitos in the hot oil in batches and shallow fry until crisp, rolling to cook all sides, about 3 minutes.
  • Drain the taquitos on paper towels and salt.
  • Remove the toothpicks before serving.
  • Place the cranberry sauce, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, onion, red pepper, green pepper, tomatoes, and salt, and pepper, to taste in a food processor and pulse until blended, but still chunky.
  • Serve with Turkey Taquitos.