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Brined Whole Turkey
Recipes
Brined Whole Turkey
12 servings
27 hours, 30 minutes total (Active 30 minutes)

Ingredients

  • 1 GreenWise whole turkey (12–14 lb)
  • 1 (6-inch) piece fresh ginger root
  • 6 tablespoons coriander seeds
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 gallons spring water, divided
  • 1 ½ cups kosher salt
  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 lemon, for zest
  • Nonstick aluminum foil

Steps

    1. Thaw turkey, if needed; peel and slice ginger. Place coriander and cinnamon in 16-quart stockpot on medium; cook and stir 4–5 minutes until toasted and fragrant. Add 8 cups water, ginger, salt, and sugar; bring to a boil and stir until salt and sugar are dissolved. Remove pot from heat; pour in remaining water and let stand to cool completely. Place turkey in brine (wash hands); cover and chill 24 hours.
    2. Preheat oven to 325°F; set butter out to soften. Zest lemon (1 tablespoon). Whip butter and lemon zest until combined. Line roasting pan with foil; place rack in pan. Remove turkey from brine and drain well, then place on rack in roasting pan; pat dry with paper towels. Rub turkey with butter mixture; roast per package instructions until browned and 165°F. Let stand 15 minutes to rest before carving. Serve.
Other Preparation Methods

      • Dry brine: Combine ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup kosher salt, 3 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice, and 1 tablespoon ground coriander. Place 12–14 lb turkey on rack in foil-lined roasting pan and coat with seasoning mixture (wash hands), then chill 24 hours. Preheat oven to 325°F. Pat turkey lightly with paper towels to remove any excess seasoning mixture; roast per package instructions until browned and 165°F. Let stand 15 minutes to rest before carving.

    Amount per 1⁄12 recipe serving: Calories 570, Total Fat 27g, Sat Fat 10g, Trans Fat 0.5g, Chol 305mg, Sodium 940mg, Total Carb 3g, Fiber 0g, Total Sugar 3g, (Incl. 3g Added Sugars), Protein 74g, Vitamin D 6%, Calc 4%, Iron 15%, Potassium 15%