This is the best turkey recipe EVER! It’s a bit more prep work than most, but you will NOT be sorry.
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Spice Rubbed Turkey for a Crowd
2014-11-23 22:28:24
This is the best turkey recipe EVER! It's a bit more prep work than most, but you will NOT be sorry.
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Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
8683g
Servings
14
Amount Per Serving
Calories 614
Calories from Fat 226
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 26g
40%
Saturated Fat 5g
24%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g
Monounsaturated Fat 11g
Cholesterol 158mg
53%
Sodium 226843mg
9452%
Total Carbohydrates 37g
12%
Dietary Fiber 18g
70%
Sugars 3g
Protein 69g
Vitamin A
221%
Vitamin C
14%
Calcium
76%
Iron
132%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
For the Brine
- 2 cups table salt
- 2 gallons of water (32 cups)
- 1 turkey 18 -22lbs, rinsed thoroughly, giblets, neck, and tailpiece discarded
Spice Rub
- 1 1/2 tablespoons coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon allspice berries
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 3 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup of water
Brine the Bird (4-6 hours)
- Dissolve salt in 2 gallons cold water in large stockpot or clean bucket.
- Add turkey and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours.
Prep the Rub (1/2 hour)
- Meanwhile, toast coriander, cumin, allspice, and mustard in small skillet over medium heat, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and wisps of smoke appear, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Cool mixture to room temperature, then grind to fine powder in dedicated coffee grinder or spice grinder or with mortar and pestle.
- Transfer mixture to small bowl, stir in paprika, ginger, thyme, cayenne, and cinnamon; cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.
- Remove turkey from brine and rinse under cool running water. Pat dry inside and out with paper towels.
- Place turkey breast-side up on flat wire rack set over rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan and refrigerate, uncovered, 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix 1-tablespoon spice rub with vegetable oil and set aside.
Rub the Bird ( 6-24 hours)
- Remove turkey from refrigerator and wipe away any water collected in baking sheet; set turkey on baking sheet.
- Carefully separate skin from breast meat and rub oil/spice rub mixture directly onto breast meat. Rub 3 tablespoons spice rub inside turkey cavity.
- Apply remaining spice rub to turkey, beginning with back-side up and finishing with breast-side up, pressing and patting to make spices adhere, and picking up and reapplying any spice rub that falls onto baking sheet.
- Tuck wings behind back and tie ends of drumsticks together with twine. Set turkey on wire rack, set wire rack on baking sheet, and refrigerate, uncovered, 6 to 24 hours.
- Adjust oven rack to lowest position; remove remaining racks.
Cook the bird (3 hours)
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Line large V-rack with heavy-duty foil and poke holes in foil; set V-rack in 15- by 12-inch roasting pan.
- Set turkey breast-side down on V-rack
- Pour 1 cup water into the bottom of the pan
- Roast turkey 1 hour; remove roasting pan with turkey from oven.
- Lower oven temperature to 325 degrees.
- Using clean dishtowel or 2 potholders, turn turkey breast-side up; return roasting pan with turkey to oven and continue to roast until legs move freely and instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170 to 180 degrees, about 2 hours longer.
Let the bird sit (40 mins)
- Transfer turkey to carving board and let rest, uncovered, 35 to 40 minutes.
- Carve and serve.
Jessy + Melissa https://www.jessyandmelissa.com/