Purica s Mljincima
Turkey with Mlinci
A traditional Croatian dish from the Zagorje region, featuring roasted turkey served with mlinci, a type of baked pasta or flatbread that is broken into pieces and softened in the turkey's juices.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 kg Whole turkey
- 2 large Onions(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 medium Carrots(chopped)
- 2 medium Celery stalks(chopped)
- 200 ml White wine
- 500 ml Chicken or turkey broth
- 50 g Butter
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black pepper(freshly ground)
- 300 g Mlinci
- 2 tbsp Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
💡 Tip: Ensure oven is fully preheated before placing the turkey inside. - 2
Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper.
💡 Tip: Drying the turkey skin helps it crisp up better. - 3
In a large roasting pan, combine chopped onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Place the turkey on top of the vegetables.
- 4
Pour white wine and broth into the roasting pan. Dot the turkey with butter.
💡 Tip: Using both wine and broth adds depth of flavor to the gravy. - 5
Roast the turkey for approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (without touching bone) registers 74°C (165°F). Baste the turkey with pan juices every 30 minutes.
💡 Tip: Basting keeps the turkey moist and helps create a flavorful gravy. - 6
Remove turkey from the oven and let it rest for 20-30 minutes before carving. Tent loosely with foil.
- 7
While the turkey rests, prepare the mlinci. Break the mlinci into bite-sized pieces. Strain the pan juices into a saucepan, discarding solids. Bring the juices to a simmer.
💡 Tip: Breaking mlinci ensures they absorb the juices evenly. - 8
Add the broken mlinci to the simmering pan juices. Stir gently until the mlinci have softened and absorbed most of the liquid, about 5-10 minutes.
💡 Tip: Do not overcook the mlinci, they should be tender but not mushy. - 9
Carve the rested turkey and serve hot with the prepared mlinci. Garnish with fresh parsley.
💡 Tip: Serve any extra gravy on the side.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓For extra crispy skin, rub the turkey with a mixture of butter, salt, pepper, and herbs before roasting.
- ✓If you don't have mlinci, you can substitute with wide egg noodles or even crusty bread torn into pieces.
- ✓The vegetables in the roasting pan can be used to make a flavorful gravy.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a few sprigs of rosemary or thyme to the roasting pan for added aroma.
- For a richer gravy, you can add a tablespoon of flour to the sautéed vegetables before adding the liquids.
- Some recipes include a stuffing made from bread, onions, and herbs to be placed inside the turkey.