Thanksgiving Brined & Roasted Turkey Recipe

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Thanksgiving Brined & Roasted Turkey
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Ingredients:

  • 18 -21 lbs turkey
  • 1 1/2 cups kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 3 gallons water
  • 1 bunch thyme
  • 4 1/2 tbsp black peppercorns
  • 6 large garlic cloves
  • 6 sprigs rosemary
  • 1 tbsp allspice berry (optional)
  • 6 juniper berries , smashed (optional)

Directions:

  1. Dissolve salt & sugar in 1 gallon warm water. It's easiest to do this in a big pot on the stove on high, stirring constantly till water is clear. Water will be warm, not hot, and you can let it cool to room temperature, if you wish.
  2. Turn off heat.
  3. Put the turkey, cavity up, inside 2 nested garbage bags, and stand this up between bags of ice in a cooler. (This has the added benefit of freeing up space in the fridge.).
  4. Pour in the brine, and add the other 2 gallons of water, and all the herbs & spices.
  5. Let marinate 12 - 24 hours.
  6. To roast: Preheat the over to 500.
  7. Stuff the turkey however you want. Do NOT salt the turkey, or use any other spices.
  8. Put the turkey, breast down, in a rack in a pan, and put the pan in the oven. You will cook the stuffed turkey for 8 minutes per pound.
  9. After 40 minutes, turn the heat down to 425. Check to see if turkey is getting too brown, if it is, tent it with foil.
  10. 45 minutes before it's done, turn the turkey so that it's breast side up (no tent), and turn the pan so that what was at the back of the oven is now at the front. Check occasionally to see if it needs tenting.
  11. Turkey is done when thickest part of thigh is 170 degrees.
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Nutrition Facts

Per ServingPer 100 g
Amount Per 1 Serving
Calories 3525.43 Kcal (14760 kJ)
Calories from fat 1277.75 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 141.97g 218%
Cholesterol 1599.17mg 533%
Sodium 12261.74mg 511%
Potassium 5119.12mg 109%
Total Carbs 83.59g 28%
Sugars 80.37g 321%
Dietary Fiber 0.42g 2%
Protein 486.91g 974%
Vitamin C 3.7mg 6%
Iron 23.4mg 130%
Calcium 616.3mg 62%
Amount Per 100 g
Calories 68.11 Kcal (285 kJ)
Calories from fat 24.69 Kcal
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2.74g 218%
Cholesterol 30.9mg 533%
Sodium 236.9mg 511%
Potassium 98.9mg 109%
Total Carbs 1.61g 28%
Sugars 1.55g 321%
Dietary Fiber 0.01g 2%
Protein 9.41g 974%
Vitamin C 0.1mg 6%
Iron 0.5mg 130%
Calcium 11.9mg 62%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Find out how many calories should you eat.

Tastes

  • salty
  • savory
  • bitter
  • sweet
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Recipe Tags

Weightwatchers Points

  • 82.3
    Points
  • 90
    PointsPlus

Good Points

  • low fat,
  • saturated fat free

Bad Points

  • High in Sodium,
  • High in Sugar,
  • High in Total Fat

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