Portuguese Turkey Brine

Submitted by daisygrl64

"Found this recipe at http://events.nytimes.com just in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas. This is perfect for big family as it serves 20 people. I will be making this for Christmas. I am posting the Stuffing recipe separately. Here is recipe "Recipe #393689" for the stuffing. Please Note: Allow Turkey to soak and marinate for 24 hours, so please plan ahead."

 

• Ready In: 3hrs 20mins
• Ingredients: 10
• Serves: 20

ingredients

• 2 (12 lb) turkey
• salt, to taste
• dry white wine (2 bottles)
• 8 large garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons sweet Hungarian paprika
• 4 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
• 2 teaspoons fresh oregano, leaves
• 1 lb bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• prepared stuffing

directions

1. Soak turkeys in salted water under refrigeration for 24 hours.
2. Combine wine, garlic, paprika, bay leaves, salt, hot pepper sauce and oregano. Marinate turkeys in this mixture for 24 hours under refrigeration. Turn occasionally.
3. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove turkeys from marinade, reserving marinade. Pack turkeys loosely with stuffing and cover openings of cavities with bread crusts; sew cavities closed. Bake remaining stuffing separately during the last half-hour turkeys are roasting.
4. Wrap turkey wings in foil. Put turkeys into roasting pans and top with pieces of bacon, putting some beneath turkeys as well. Pour reserved marinade over turkeys.
5. Roast turkeys for 30 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and roast turkeys about 2 1/2 hours more. If turkeys get too brown before they are cooked, put aluminum foil over the top. If turkeys are roasted in a single oven, they may need 30 minutes or more of extra roasting time.