I have two easy brines for your Thanksgiving Turkey this year. One is for a roasted turkey and one for a Smoked Turkey.
These are really good and I have used these recipes for years. NO MORE dried out Turkey.
Roasted Turkey:
Brine:
3/4 apple cider and 1/4 water to cover the turkey in a BIG plastic bag, pot or bucket with a lid. I use a bucket with a lid you can buy at any hardware store.
Add 1 C sea salt and 1/2 C sugar, stir these into the apple cider and water until disolved. Add a 1/2 C peppercorns, fresh 1/2 C sage, 1/4 C rosemary and Thyme. Add all the brine to the turkey and leave in the refrigerator for 1-3 days.
Herb Mixture:
Combine in a food processor:
1 to 1 1/2 sticks softened butter and a hand full of each: rosemary, sage, cilantro, thyme and pine nuts. 3-4 cloves of garlic. Salt and Pepper to your liking.
Remove the turkey from the brine after 1-3 days. Pat it dry. Lossen the skin form the meat with your fingers. Rub the herb mixture under the skin with your hand. Brush the top of the turkey skin with oil and any remaining butter/herb mixture. Place the turkey on a wire rack inside a roasting pan. Fill the bottom of the pan with white wine. Bake the turkey for the first 30 minutes at 500*. Then reduce the temperature to 350* for the remainder of the cooking time per the Turkey package directions. Tint the turkey with aluminum foil for the remainder of the cooking time.
The wine/alcohol will evaporate during cooking. After roasting is complete use the drippings from the bottom of the pan to make gravy. You may need to strain the drippings before using to make the gravy.
Smoked Turkey Brine:
3/4 apple cider and 1/4 water to cover the turkey as in the Roasted Turkey recipe.
Add to the liquid the following:
1 C koshar salt, 3-4 minced garlic cloves, 1/4 C Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 C brown sugar, 2 Tbls. black pepper. Brine for 2-3 days before smoking. Remove the Turkey from the brine and pat dry.
Rub vegetable oil on the inside of the cavity and stuff the cavity with sliced onion and apple. Tie the legs together. Rob the rest of the turkey with the oil and sprinkle with Salt and Pepper. Smoke the Turkey breast side up according to the instructions for your grill or smoker.
Either one of these recipes can be used on a Turkey breast as well.
Let me know how your turkey turned out! Send me a picture of your masterpiece!
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