 |
Prep Time: 1440 Minutes Cook Time: 240 Minutes |
Ready In: 1680 Minutes Servings: 8 |
|
I made this for my big family Thanksgiving dinner a couple years ago. Since then, I've been the designated turkey maker. This turkey is so juicy and full of flavor, you'll never want another turkey again. Ingredients:
1 (16 lb) fresh turkey |
20 fresh sage leaves |
1/2 cup softened butter |
salt & freshly ground black pepper |
1 cup kosher salt |
1/2 cup light brown sugar |
1 gallon vegetable stock |
1 tablespoon black peppercorns |
1/2 tablespoon allspice berry |
1/2 tablespoon candied ginger |
1 gallon ice water |
1 red apple, sliced |
1/2 onion, sliced |
1 cinnamon stick |
1 cup water |
4 sprigs rosemary |
6 leaves sage |
1/2 cup melted butter |
1 1/4 cups dry white wine |
Directions:
1. The night before cooking, combine all brine ingredients, except ice water, in a stockpot, and bring to a boil.
2. Stir to dissolve solids, then remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
3. When cooled, combine the brine and ice water in a clean 5-gallon bucket.
4. Remove the neck and gizzard from the turkey.
5. Rinse the bird thoroughly with cold water and pat dry.
6. Place thawed turkey breast side down in brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area.
7. Turn turkey over once, half way through brining.
8. Day of cooking, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
9. Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes.
10. Remove bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water.
11. Discard brine.
12. Pat turkey dry with paper towels.
13. Using your fingers, gently loosen the skin from the breasts and drumsticks and slip the sage leaves underneath.
14. Rub the entire surface with softened butter.
15. Sprinkle the skin and cavity with salt and pepper.
16. Add warm aromatics to the cavity.
17. In a small sauce pan, add stick of butter and wine and keep warm on low heat for baste.
18. Place turkey, legs first, in oven.
19. Cook for 30 minutes.
20. Remove from oven and using a pastry brush, baste turkey with butter-and-wine mixture.
21. Cover breast with double layer of aluminum foil.
22. Turn roasting pan so that the breast is facing the back of the oven.
23. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to cook for 2 more hours, basting every 30 minutes and watching pan juices; if the pan gets too full, spoon out juices, reserving them for gravy.
24. After the second hour of cooking, insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding any bones.
25. The temperature should reach 180 degrees and the turkey should be golden brown.
26. The breast does not need to be checked for temperature.
27. If legs are not yet fully cooked, baste turkey, return the aluminum, return to oven, and cook another 20 to 30 minutes.
28. When fully cooked, transfer turkey to a serving platter and let rest for about 30 minutes.
|
|