I had to make an emergency trip to Goa and it’s been 2 days now with a 13.5 hrs time difference. Fighting the jet lag after a 20 hour flight and trying to enjoy my mum’s home cooked food. I am hoping to get some pictures that I can post when I get back from my short trip. Wishing you all a great Thanksgiving week and be safe while you travel.
This recipe of Baked Turkey with Cafreal Spices for Thanksgiving has a nice spice kick to an all time classic recipe. I had to try this recipe as my husband is not a great fan of turkey but he seemed excited about this one. He loves spicy foods.
Turkey in Goa is made mostly for weddings, its was considered as an auspicious meat. My parents being fond of turkey always looked forward to weddings that had it on the menu. It’s amazing how your world is defined by your surrounding until I got exposed to the bigger world and so when I came to the US, I was surprised by how easily turkey meat was available.
Serving Size: 6-8
Ingredients
8 lbs turkey
6-8 tbsp of cafreal masala
2 lemon
2-3 tbsp of butter
1 poultry blend (optional)
Oil
salt to taste

Directions:
- Wash the turkey, clean the inside of the cavity, wipe the turkey dry.
- Apply salt, lemon juice and cafreal masala to the turkey, if possible apply some underneath the skin of the breast. Marinate overnight. If you like it spicy then you can add about 2-3 tbsp of cafreal masala.
- Heat oven to 350F.
- Drizzle the turkey with olive oil and rub it over. You can add the poultry blend inside the cavity of the turkey.
- Put in the turkey for 1 hr 50 minutes using the chart, that for every pound add 15 minutes to the cooking time but it depends on the oven and mine got ready in a shorter time.
- After 1 1/2 hrs, brush some butter on top of the turkey to crisp the skin. Check with a meat thermometer till internal temp is about 165F.
- Let the turkey rest for 20 minutes covered in foil, a tip I got from Ina Garten before you carve it.
You can use the spiced leftover turkey for fajita or enchiladas or the all time favorite turkey sandwich.
I may have to try this on christmas day!
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Sounds like a great idea 🙂
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Can not get cafreal massala where I live. What spices can I mix to get a similar taste?
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That turkey looks delicious! I’m sure the world loves your recipes.
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Thanks Much Tony!
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Great recipe ⭐
Thanks for sharing!. Best wishes. Aquileana 😀
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Thank You so much Aquileana 🙂
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Mmmhhhh delicious, thank you very much Nandini….💗💗💗
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Hmmm, never thought about a turkey seasoned that way. Thanks for sharing. Many thanks for stopping by my blog again. I appreciate it.
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You are so welcome Connie and Thank You 🙂
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yummy! soo tempting! 🙂
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Thank Pattu 🙂
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What a brilliant take on it!
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Thanks Riya 🙂
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It’s a fascinating perspective about turkey dinner. Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. 🙂
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Thank You Teagan 🙂
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I should give it a try – looks very good… 🙂
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Thank You! You sure should give it a go 🙂
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The spice ingredients sound awesome. Time to try a new flavor turkey. 😀
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It’s good to do something different outside of the norm once’s a while 🙂
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
A timely recipe for Turkey with the wonderful spices that infuse it from Goa.
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I was thinking: You ought to offer free snacks for each person as they visit your site. Since your recipes always make me feel so hungry. 🙂
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Lol….may be I should have BOYS (Bring Your Own Snack) policy on my website 🙂
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ha-ha! Very good idea 🙂
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Hi Nandini,
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. I’ve really been enjoying your blog although I haven’t been brave enough to try the recipes…yet! For the details about the award, you can click through here:
https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2014/11/24/yippee-accepting-the-versatile-bloggers-award/
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thank You so much Rowena, that was a very sweet gesture. I am greatly honored 🙂
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hi nandina!! i enjoy your site,soon i hope mine will grow but i am a old farmer boy and type with one finger!!lol i am a fairly dedicated chef but have never used or even heard of cafreal masala??? what n does it consist off,,can i get it at specialty stores??? thank you have a ghreat day!! Duane drano
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Duane, thank you so much for your kinds words. It makes me happy to know you enjoy my blog. Dont worry I too type with one finger as well, you will get there soon just keep at it. Cafreal Masala is an Indian curry paste only available in the state of Goa. It’s made with freshh cilantro, green chili, ginger, garlic and dried spices that has been ground in vinegar. It’s available online at http://www.goanimports.com. Hope this helps.
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I’m so excited to try this recipe. We’re going to a Thanksgiving potluck where I’m going to bring a side dish, but we want to make our own turkey to have left overs at home :-). This looks like a perfect recipe to mix things up. Thanks and I hope you have some good family time despite the bittersweet trip home.
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That will be awesome Erin 🙂
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You’re not in Goa? I have to leave India soon and my husband is here for a little bit longer. I was sending him up to meet you on my behalf. 🌷😏
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Yes I am :-). An unexppected trip, as my dad who is 89 years old is not in a good state with his health and my mother wanted me to come and see him before he got worse. A bitter sweet trip for 2 weeks 😦
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Oh yes, spicy turkey!! More please! Thank you for the like on 10 minute exercise Nandini. Have a memorable Thanksgiving. Bob
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You are welcome Bob and a Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.
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does the Cafreal Masala have a thick consistency like a paste? This sounds like a wonderful pesto or spread for bread, or possibly to stir into rice.
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It is a wet paste, but you can not eat it in it’s raw form. Cooking rice with it you can. Like Arroz con Pollo.
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Wishing you and your family a lovely Thanksgiving! 🙂
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Thank You so much Maryanne. A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well 🙂
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That Turkey looks DELICIOUS Nandini! My mouth is watering and I am not even a huge turkey fan.
Have a great weekend
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Awww…thanks you so much Sandhya. That was very sweet of you to say. You too have a great weekend 🙂
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Happy thanksgiving Nandini. The turkey looks delicious 🙂
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Thank you so much Dilip. You too have a great Thanksgiving.
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Hi Nandini, safe trip back to US and work and family here! Cheryl
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Thank You so much Cheryl. That is so sweet of you. My dad has not been doing very well and has become bedridden. My mum wanted me to come and get his blessings. It’s a bittersweet trip 😦
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Aw, you are in my thoughts Nandini!
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Reblogged this on My Wonder Emporium.
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Oh wow! Thank you so much Michelle, I truly apprecciate it 🙂
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I love your blog! Plus, it’s my turn to do the turkey this Christmas! 🙂
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Awww…. thanks Michelle. Wishing you all the very best with the turkey 🙂
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delicious and yummy – preparing and writing recipe in difficult and even harder to cook it. Bravo!
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Thank You Mihran for youur kind words.
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Writing recipes is very hard and you did an excellent job!!
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I agree I can smell that turkey roasting!
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Love the smell of roasting,just gives you a warm cozy feeling :-). Did I just get rhyming…hahaha!
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Awww…Thank You Carol you are so sweet :-). Baking Turkey can be tricky sometimes, as there is only a 50% chance of it turning out right.
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I want to eat the pictures you posted !!! LoL 😊
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That was the plan… :-).
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😊
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Love this idea. I find turkey pretty boring, but this sounds exciting!
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Thank You sso much. That is so true, it just spices things up 🙂
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Sounds so good!
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Thank You so mych Amanda:-)
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Reblogged this on MrMilitantNegro™.
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Jueseppi, Thank you for the reblog. It is very much appreciated and very kind of you 🙂
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