12 Unique Turkey Dishes To Surprise Everyone On Christmas
Christmas is all about the turkey – it takes centre stage during the festive season. Restaurants have some interesting interpretations this year.
By Ho Guo Xiong and Michelle Lee -
Turkey is synonymous with Christmas, and you'll find every other restaurant serving up the bird during the holiday season. We all enjoy the traditional roast turkey, but if you have a more adventurous palate, you'll want to check out these restaurants and hotels that have each given it their own radical spins.
Think buah keluak turkey to Korean fried chicken-inspired ones that'll make for interesting additions to your Christmas table.
Every year, the culinary team behind The Fullerton Hotel and The Fullerton Bay Hotel releases a turkey inspired by local flavours. Roast Turkey Pongteh ($258 nett for 6-7kg) is this year’s feature, with the turkey marinated, slow-roasted, and then topped with the classic fermented bean gravy. Pumpkin rice garnished with cranberries, housemade sambal belacan, and belinjau crackers round out the meal with a ginger flower, green mango, and pomelo salad.
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Lime Restaurant in Parkroyal Collection Pickering also offers a Peranakan-inspired turkey this Christmas. As part of the Peranakan Christmas Combo ($398+ for 6kg) curated by Executive chef Alvin Leong, the Signature Buah Keluak Turkey is complemented with Angus Beef Short Rib Rendang, Nonya Salmon Otah Roll, Chap Chye, Bakwan Kepiting Soup, and a log cake of your choice. The turkey, which is available ala carte ($148+), is served with Nasi Kunyit Chestnut Stuffing, Holiday Vegetable Medly, and Buah Keluak Gravy.
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To make Goodwood Park Hotel’s Oven-Baked Rock Sugar Honey Glazed Turkey ($268+, good for eight to 12 persons), the bird is first marinated with a spice blend for two days before being boiled in a mix of soy sauce and rock sugar. It is then oven-baked with a honey glaze to a bronzed sweet-savoury finish. For carbs, the turkey set comes with rice cooked with fried shrimp, ginger, bok choy, and chicken stock. You will also get a side of black soy sauce and ginger chilli sauce. Other unique turkey creations to sink your teeth into are the Baked Turkey Char Siew Snow Buns ($48+ for 10 pieces), Butter Turkey with Cranberry Cheese Naan ($68+), and the crowd-favourite DIY Turkey Popiah with Homemade Sambal Chilli ($86+).
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Inspired by the popular Marmite chicken commonly found at local Chinese eateries, One Farrer Hotel’s executive chef Marcus Tan has dreamt up the Honey Marmite Glazed Turkey ($168 nett for 5.5kg) to be the centrepiece of the Christmas menu. Not only is the turkey glazed with the sweet and umami combo, but the bird also comes with a similar homemade sauce. The turkey comes in a set with yam mash, pickled vegetables and chestnut stuffing.
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Pandan and ginger don’t just make a yummy beverage. French chain Paul uses these flavours to accent its Pandan Ginger Turkey ($249 nett for 3.5-4.5kg). The bird is first brined with kecap manis before it is glazed with onion, turmeric, pandan leaf, and oyster sauce. Turmeric Cranberry Rice, Tomato Curry Quail Eggs, and Roasted Vegetables complete the meal. If you want more protein, you can get the Char Siew-glazed Turkey Ham ($89 nett), too.
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If you have ever wondered how well char siew sauce and turkey would pair, look no further than Hotel Fort Canning’s Honey-Glazed Char Siew Roast Turkey ($178+ for 5 to 5.5kg, good for six to eight persons). Executive chef Louis Tan created the dish, which features char siew sauce alongside Brussels sprouts, carrots, corn, squash, and potatoes.
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Da Paolo Gastronomia’s Stuffed & Deboned Roast Turkey ($388 nett for 4kg, good for 10 to 12 persons) is a take on the turducken — turkey, duck, and chicken combined. The turkey is first deboned, then stuffed with a mix of confit duck leg, roasted chestnuts, and black truffle. The duck wraps around a combination of marinated minced chicken with sauteed mushrooms, leeks, and onions. You will also get herb-roasted potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, and homemade black truffle gravy.
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Whole Roast Turkey with Citrus, Chestnut & Duck Foie Gras Stuffing, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Soju, pear, and cinnamon sound like the start of a lovely Christmas cocktail. These three ingredients are used to make Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s Whole Roast Turkey with Citrus, Chestnut & Duck Foie Gras Stuffing ($245 nett for 4.5-5kg). The bird is brined for 48 hours before it is baked and glazed with a sweet and tangy sauce. The accompanying sauce continues the Asian and Western influence, too, as it employs soy sauce and port wine.
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The humble Christmas turkey gets a Korean spin at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium with the Roast Yangnyeom Turkey ($198 nett for 4kg, good for seven to eight persons), a take on the beloved Korean fried chicken. The bird is slathered with a sweet and spicy glaze made with gochujang, honey, and garlic. Sides of kimchi and tteokbokki further amp up the theme.
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For those with fewer people to feed, turkey breast is a more manageable option than an entire bird. Princess Terrace in Copthorne King’s Hotel is known for its Penang and Peranakan cuisine. This resulted in the Nonya-style Roasted Turkey Breast ($128+ for 1.5kg, good for five to six pax). What makes its bird especially Peranakan, is the housemade buah keluak sauce.
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Roasted Prawn Paste Turkey, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore
Fans of Har Cheong Gai, or prawn paste chicken, will definitely have to try Grand Copthorne Waterfront’s new Roasted Prawn Paste Turkey ($188+ for 6kg, good for 10 to 12 persons). The local spin is accented with Belachan Chilli, Calamansi, Pickled Root Vegetables, and Garlic Fried Rice.
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For a halal option, head to M Hotel Singapore and get the Winter Truffle Turkey with Parmigiano ($148+ for 4kg, good for six to eight persons). As the name suggests, the turkey is served with truffle champignon cream sauce and topped with a snowing of Parmigiano cheese. You will also get seasonal vegetables and potato sides.
Order here.