Thank you to Kari Thevenot for submitting this recipe from www.foodnetwork.com. This turkey recipe has been used in the Thevenot family a number of times, and always results in a moist, flavorful bird. While it is a little work on the front end, it is well worth the effort. This recipe is from the Food Network’s “Good Eats” show, hosted by Alton Brown.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen turkey (14 to 16 pound)
For the brine:
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 gallon vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp. black peppercorns
- 1/2 tbsp. allspice berries
- 1/2 tbsp. candied ginger
- 1 gallon iced water
For the aromatics:
- 1 red apple, sliced
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 cup water
- 4 sprigs rosemary
- 6 leaves sage
- Canola oil
Combine all brine ingredients, except ice water, in a stockpot and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve solids, then remove from heat. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
Early on the day of cooking, or late the night before, combine the brine and the ice water in a clean 5-gallon bucket. Don’t use a bucket which has previously been used for cleaning – use a bucket that can be for the turkey. Place thawed turkey breast-side down in brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in a cool area (like a basement) for 6 hours. Turn turkey over once, halfway through brining.
A few minutes before roasting, heat oven to 500 degrees. Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes.
Remove bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard brine.
Place bird on roasting rack inside wide, low pan and pat dry with paper towels. Add steeped aromatics to cavity along with rosemary and sage. Tuck back wings and coat whole bird liberally with canola or other neutral oil.
Roast on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cover breast with double layer of aluminum foil, insert probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and return to oven, reducing temperature to 350 degrees. Set thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees. A 14-16 pound turkey should require a total of 2-2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let turkey rest, loosely covered for 15 minutes before carving.
