Underseer
Contributor
Below is a recipe from chef Jim Hoban that I got from the Chicago Tribune years ago.
I made it for my family and my family demanded that I make it again every year since. The one thing I noticed about the original recipe is that the resulting turkey gravy turned out awful every time. I fixed that by adding a heaping handful of whole peppercorns to the brine.
Note: sometimes I add the peppercorns after everything else has been boiled.
I was considering making gajar halwa as a carrot side dish for Thanksgiving, but now I'm starting to think I'll stick with my scotch 'n butter carrots again this year.
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If you've never brined a turkey, I highly recommend trying it. The brine makes the meat tender and juicy and well-seasoned.
I made it for my family and my family demanded that I make it again every year since. The one thing I noticed about the original recipe is that the resulting turkey gravy turned out awful every time. I fixed that by adding a heaping handful of whole peppercorns to the brine.
Chef Jim Hoban suggests brining the turkey in a large plastic tub outdoors, as long as the temperature stays below 40°. Otherwise, you'll have to make room for it in the refrigerator. Hoban starts with a high temperature of 450°, but because of the sugar content of the brine, we found it too-quickly browned the turkey. We reduced the temperature to 375°.
6 cups water
1 gallon apple cider
1 cup coarse salt
big handful of whole peppercorns
1 cup light brown sugar
4 apples, cored, sliced
1 turkey, about 12 pounds
6 sprigs fresh thyme
6 sprigs fresh oregano
2 sprigs fresh sage
1 medium onion, halved
5 cloves garlic
½ stick (¼ cup) butter, melted
Freshly ground black pepper
- Combine water, cider, salt, peppercorn, brown sugar and apples in a large pot. Heat to boil over high heat. Remove from heat; cool 1 hour. Transfer to a smaller container if you wish; refrigerate until cold.
- Remove giblets from turkey cavity; refrigerate. Place turkey in large tub or cooler; pour brine over to cover. Refrigerate at least 12 hours, turning occasionally.
- Heat oven to 375°. Remove turkey from the brine to a rack in a large roasting pan; pat dry. Stuff cavity with fresh herbs, onion halves and garlic. Brush turkey with melted butter; season with pepper. Roast 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 325°; tent with foil. Roast until thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 175°, about 2½ to 3 hours. Let rest 20 minutes before carving.
Note: sometimes I add the peppercorns after everything else has been boiled.
I was considering making gajar halwa as a carrot side dish for Thanksgiving, but now I'm starting to think I'll stick with my scotch 'n butter carrots again this year.
- - - Updated - - -
If you've never brined a turkey, I highly recommend trying it. The brine makes the meat tender and juicy and well-seasoned.