This amazing turkey recipe provides a detailed brining and cooking process to ensure a flavorful and moist turkey for your Thanksgiving celebration. It includes steps for preparing a brine, drying the turkey, and using compound butter to enhance the flavor, ensuring a crispy skin and juicy meat.
1: 2-3 days before cooking, prepare the brine with salt, savory seasoning, dried herbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and peppercorns. Mix with a quart of water, bring to boil, then add 3 more quarts of water after removing from heat.
2: Keep the brine mixture cool, then submerge the turkey in it, covering and refrigerating for at least 12 to 24 hours.
3: A day before cooking, remove turkey from brine, check cavity, pat dry, and place uncovered in the fridge for 24 hours.
4: Prepare the compound butter by mixing butter, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs.
5: On the day of cooking, remove turkey from the fridge 1-2 hours before cooking to reach room temperature.
6: Inject or cover the turkey in compound butter before cooking.
7: Use a thermometer to ensure turkey breast reaches an internal temperature of 150-155°F, resting to reach 165°F before carving.
8: Add remaining compound butter over carved turkey for extra flavor.
