BBQ Wild Turkey Sandwiches

Considering we don’t buy meat from the grocery store anymore, I now have to transform wild game meat in a way that I can still use my old recipes. These BBQ Wild Turkey Sandwiches are no exception. Rather than pulled pork, I substituted in shredded wild turkey legs which works surprisingly well. Texture is the exact same and let’s be honest it’s hard to taste the meat when it’s slathered in BBQ sauce! This recipe would be even BETTER if you used smoked wild turkey legs. If you decide to go this route, be sure to let me know how they came out!

Serves:  2 Sandwiches –  Prepare Time: 30 minutes +/-

INGREDIENTS:

BBQ WILD TURKEY SANDWICHES:

• 10-12 Ounces Shredded Wild Turkey Legs
• 1/2 Cup +/- BBQ Sauce
• 2 Buns of your Choice (I used homemade sourdough)
• Handful Quick-Pickled Onions
• 1/4 cup +/- Garlic Aioli
• Lettuce
• Butter, for rolls
• Salt & Pepper
• Extra BBQ Sauce, if desired

PICKLED ONIONS:

• 1 Onion, Sliced Thin (can use white or red)
• 3/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 Cup Water
• 2 Tablespoons +/- Granulated Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Himalayan Salt (or whatever you have on hand)

GARLIC AIOLI:

• 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 1 Generous Tablespoon Minced Garlic
• 1 Generous Tablespoon Ketchup
• 1/2 Teaspoon Fresh Parsley, Minced
• 1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1/4 Teaspoon Flaky Salt
• Pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

DIRECTIONS:

1.) To make the quick-pickled onions, simply slice an onion thin. To a small saucepan, add vinegar, water, salt, and sugar and cook until just boiling, stirring occasionally to help dissolve salt and sugar. Add sliced onion to a mason jar and top with pickling liquid. Cover and place in fridge for 1 hour.

2.) Prep the garlic aioli by first mincing garlic and fresh parsley. To a bowl, combine mayo, lemon juice, garlic, ketchup, parsley, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. Mix well. Store in fridge, covered, until ready to use.

3.) Place a cast iron pan on medium heat. Cut rolls in half and spread cut-side with butter. Once pan is at temperature, about 3-5 minutes, place rolls cut-side down. Cook until browned and toasty, about 5-7 minutes.

4.) Click link in ingredients for recipe on how to cook wild turkey legs to use in this recipe. Warm BBQ sauce in the microwave and toss with shredded wild turkey meat. To assemble sandwiches, smear both cut-sides with garlic aioli. Top with BBQ wild turkey, quick-pickled onions, and a lettuce leaf. Serve with chips or french fries and enjoy!