Panes con Pavo (Salvadoran Turkey Sandwiches)

This year we’ll be having Thanksgiving with my (Anglo) family, so I won’t be making Panes con Pavo, (Salvadoran Turkey Sandwiches), which I like to do sometimes. That’s okay though because this special meal is typically made for Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve in El Salvador – We will have to wait a little longer and have it then.

Here’s the recipe so you can make it whenever you’d like.

Note: This recipe was adapted from “Pavo Salvadoreño” at Whats4Eats.com. Over the years I have simplified my method to the recipe below. If you want a recipe that is closer to authentic, (but uses many more ingredients), go check it out.

Panes Con Pavo (Salvadoran Turkey Sandwiches)

First you need to cook the chumpe or chompipe! (Those are Salvadoran words for “turkey”.) Note: You can use a chicken, but if you do, you will need to halve the other ingredients in this recipe as well as the cooking time.

Ingredients:

1 medium-sized turkey defrosted (giblets discarded)
1/2 cup yellow mustard
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce (“Salsa Perrins”)
52 ounces (two 26 ounce jars) of your favorite salsa
1 – 2 cups water
Salt and pepper
“Relajo” Salvadoran spice mixture (optional but recommended if you can find it)

Directions:

1. Wash the turkey with cold water. Pat dry. Season the inside and outside of the turkey with salt and pepper.

2. Mix mustard and Worcestershire sauce together in a bowl, then rub the mixture all over the outside of the turkey. Refrigerate uncovered for about 12 hours.

3. Put the turkey, (breast side down), in a roasting pan on the lowest rack of the oven. Cook for 1 hour at 350°F.

4. Flip the turkey breast side up. Add the salsa to the roasting pan, on and around the turkey. (If using “relajo” spice mixture, add this as well.) Cook for approximately 2 more hours until cooked through. (Make sure you spoon some of the salsa and liquid over the turkey every 20 minutes or so to keep it moist. You can also cover the turkey with foil to keep it from browning too much.)

5. Remove the turkey to cool.

6. Make the sauce: Add the liquid and salsa from the roasting pan to a blender and puree. Pour salsa into a saucepan. (If too thick, add water to thin – but I have never needed to do this.) Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer until slightly thickened. Strain through a sieve if your blender didn’t catch everything. Season with salt and pepper if needed. When sufficiently cooled and easy enough to handle, you can pour into a cleaned ketchup or salad dressing bottle for easy use.

(Note: It’s best if you can find the “relajo” spice mixture, [or make it yourself.] Relajo adds a very unique Salvadoran flavor.)

7. The turkey, when sufficiently cooled, can be sliced and then served as sandwiches. This is how we eat it. Use “bolillo” bread rolls, mayonnaise, shredded lettuce, tomato slices, onion, cucumber, radishes, the sauce you made, or any other combination that appeals to you.

(update) Note: Apparently (see comments) having watercress on the sandwich makes it much more authentic!
(update) 1/2/2013 – This recipe has been slightly edited and better photos added. Enjoy!