Fantastic Spicy and Super Juicy Turkey
photo by grego73
- Ready In:
- 3hrs
- Ingredients:
- 25
- Serves:
-
5-10
ingredients
- 1 (15 -20 lb) whole turkey
-
For the Brine
- 1 -3 gallon water
- ice
- 2 1⁄2 cups kosher salt, dissolved
- 1 cup sugar, dissolved
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon caraway seed
- 8 cloves
- 10 star anise
- 4 oranges, quartered
- 24 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- 1 bunch parsley
- 1 bunch fresh marjoram
- 6 teaspoons rosemary
- 3 onions, quartered
- 3 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 1⁄2 cup dried chili
- 2 apples, quartered
- 4 teaspoons juniper berries
-
For the Turkey
- 1⁄2 cup olive oil
- 1 bunch rosemary
- 1⁄2 cup butter, melted
- 8 garlic cloves, pressed
- 1⁄2 cup salt pork, chopped fine
- 1 orange, quartered
directions
- In a large ice chest, combine the water, dissolved salt, and sugar, stirring well. Add all the other ingredients and mix until all are soaked with the liquid. Add Turkey and ice, allowing the ice to cover the Turkey and delicious components. This concoction will need to sit overnight, preferably at least 24 - 48 hours. During that time, simply rotate the turkey and add ice as needed.
- When ready to cook the turkey, remove the bird, rinse well and use a towel to pat dry. I use a hair dryer, which in turn, helps create a crisper skin. Allow the turkey to arrive at room temperature This should take 40 min - 1 hours Preheat oven to 450°F In the cavity, stuff the salt pork, rosemary bunch, garlic cloves, and oranges inside.
- Combine the olive oil, pressed garlic, and butter in a bowl, and brush the entire turkey's skin. I do not truss the bird. Any ingredients that may fall out add a great flavor to drippings if you're making gravy with them.
- Place the turkey breast-down in your roasting pan. Place in the oven and cook at 450°F for 40 minutes, turning temp down to 350°F for the duration of roasting. There is no need for basting this turkey, and opening the oven will only prolong it's cooking time. Turn the bird breast-up during the last 30 minutes of cooking time. Turkey should reach 165°F when checked with a thermometer in the thigh joint.
- 10lb = 2.5 hours.
- 15ld = 3.00 hours.
- 20lb = 3.75 - 4.00 hours.
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Reviews
-
This brine looked a bit complicated, but going forward with the recipe it turned out to be a pretty easy process. The salt pork in the bird cavity scared me, hopwever it was a supremely delicious turkey. My whole family wanted the recipe and thought it was the best turkey they ever tasted. I don't know if I believe all that, but it was an awesome end result. I added 4 habeneros, chopped to the brine, btw.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Cooking is my favorite thing to do. I like the idea in following a recipe loosely and getting a different result with some personal modifications... Love to cook with friends, explore a good cocktail recipe, and enjoy trying new wines....