I need a halal turkey.....help!

[Selks]

We have a Muslim guest at Christmas, who will be enjoying Christmas with us, and I'd like to get a halal turkey.

Anyone have any knowledge of where I can get one?
I know I can approach halal butchers and will do if I need to, but if anyone knows of any specific sources that would be great.
I also know I can get halal chicken, but I'd like to try to get turkey.

Thanks in advance

[Howlsmovingcastle]

This amuses me as I have a Muslim dad and a Christian mum and we always had halal turkeys growing up

No brand names I'm aware of: I'd advise you to just find a local halal butcher. Otherwise, I'd hit google and see what I could find.

[Selks]

I have googled, and about the only useful result was a wonderful sounding organic halal turkey priced at £100!!

Nice to hear, from your experiences, that it can be done though . It's my lovely Malaysian daughter-in-law's first UK Christmas and she's so excited .

[Staryeyed]

where are you? There are quite a few places that do Halal turkeys in London.

[Howlsmovingcastle]

We had Christmas during Ramadan 3 years running. Dad went to work in the morning and we had a big xmas meal with friends after the sun had gone down. It was quite nice to have the whole day for food prep actually!

[Selks]

I'm in Yorkshire, Staryeyed. Do you know any specific places in London, as my son and his wife will be travelling up from London and may be able to bring it if I can arrange it.

[Selks]

Fab way of blending the two cultures days, Howls

[raisah]

Get yourself to Leeds, Bradford or Wakefield or any Yorkshire town with an Asian population and you will find a halal burcher. I have an aunt who lives in Bradford, I could ask if her butcher does halal turkeys if you like.

When my friend converted to Islam, on her first Xmas home her mum very proudly sourced a halal turkey. She cooked it and made sure the stuffing was made from) lamb mince rather than pork & then went into automatic mode and put bacon on top! Her mum was mortified!

[Selks]

Hi Raisah, I know where there are halal butchers in surrounding areas but I've never seen them selling turkey. I didn't know if it was generally available? Very kind of you to offer to ask your Aunt - that could be really helpful, thanks.

Oh dear to the bacon...I won't be making any gaffes like that (I hope)!

[Howlsmovingcastle]

Our local sandwich place in London is run by a Muslim family - they have put out a polite little sign saying "Our 'bacon' is actually turkey bacon. Feel free to try it". I like the invisible "And if you don't like it, tough" addendum!

It is quite nice too, so bacon isn't necessarily out

[Selks]

[ILoveAFullFridge]

I think Muslims are happy to eat kosher meat, considering it to be halal as well. So you might have more luck finding a mail-order kosher chicken. To be kosher it would have to be accredited (? not sure of the proper word) by a Rabbinic organisation. The website will specify if this is the case.

[Selks]

Really? I didn't know that. I'll check that out with my daughter-in-law. Potentially a good idea; thank you.

[Howlsmovingcastle]

You might want to broach it with your son first - some Muslims can be a bit unreasonable/unaccepting of the thought that kosher and halal are at all similar of course they flipping are

Anyway, it might be good to ask him how he thinks she might feel. If he gives you a firm negative then you can quietly shelve the idea without causing any awkwardness. Alternatively, you could ask any Muslim friends/co-workers (although I suspect you might not have any as you'd have asked them for butcher advice)!

[Howlsmovingcastle]

Oh and for heaven's sake tell him not to just say 'Oh, I'm not sure. HEY LOVE, MY MUM WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU'LL EAT KOSHER FOOD' because that is exactly how my DH would respond. Utter tact fail!

[pinkmagic1]

Just go into your nearest halal butchers and ask. Our local one will order turkeys in for you.

[ILoveAFullFridge]

I only think this because I remember my Muslim friends in London being perfectly happy to eat my mum's kosher roast chicken, as long as we kept the dog closed up in a different room while they were visiting.

[littleducks]

We eat halal but not kosher and don't view then as the same as different processes are followed. I know done people are less strict about it though.

Halal turkeys are available pretty much year round in the butchers on Edgeware road, green valleys is one the other is big and near Maroush.

Smaller places often let you order turkey in December presumerably because there are lots of turkey around.

[Staryeyed]

I would check with them about eating kosher -I've not met anyone that would.

Ask at you nearest halal butchers first. I think they should be able to get hold of turkey for Xmas as long as you give plenty of notice. We have been able to get goose, turkey and duck and beef joints. It wasn't as hard as I had thought.

If you still need it, I will list the ones I know.

Btw I have ordered from the online place a few times now (not the organic just free range), lovely people who went above and beyond to get our turkey to us in the snow.

[Dollybird86]

Hi I live in leeds and can recommend a good halal butche if you'd like mine offers a order service on turkeys I generally order it 2 weeks before and pick it up on the 23rd. I think you will struggle to find a butcher whos just stocking turkeys as its not a very popular meat.
Hope that helps

[GoshAnneGorilla]

Maybe ask on the Muslim tearoom thread in the religion section.

Asdas and Tescos in areas with a large Muslim population often have halal butchers and they may be able to help.

[Selks]

Thank you everyone, this thread has really helped. Dollybird, what is your butcher in Leeds called please, and where is it?

[Selks]

Muslim tearoom thread is a good idea.

[Selks]

Staryeyed, please could you tell me who your butchers are, also? Thanks

[Staryeyed]

Maroush Delicatessen, Edgware Road. We have had duck from there a few years back. They did do turkey as well. Phone ahead to check. 0207 723 3666

There are two butchers we have used here I think this is the one: Samira Food, Willesden. We have only had lamb and chicken from here but they told us they could get both turkey and duck. 0208 459 1772.

Jr Butchers, Tooting Broadway. They do organic and free range turkey and duck and other meats. I haven't been there so can't vouch for quality. 0208 682 3949

There a loads of Halal butchers all over London and In sure many of them would do it. We asked around one year when our turkey didn't arrive. Quite a few sold it or could get it so I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult.

Organichalalmeatonline is where we have ordered from for quality and convenience. There was another company we used a halal subsection of Ben burgers, that were cheaper and reliable but they seem to have changed to wholesale and non halal. Might be worth checking.

[missusmrs]

Lots here in west London if you need some names. We had the great adventure of having to make an emergency dash out last December 25th, due to an off smelling turkey! Found a lovey (busy) halal butchers 5 minutes from our house, was so good we're going back again this year!