As promised, and in preparation for Thanksgiving I wanted to share the recipes that will be gracing my table. Starting with the star of the show, my buttermilk brined smoked turkey with foccacia and chestnut stuffing. My husband started brining and smoking his turkey (c/o Joyce Farms) on the Big Green Egg 2 years ago, and he’ll never go back, (in case you don’t have a smoker, I promise you this turkey is not burnt, that’s just how the smoker makes it appear). The brine, while an extra step, is a complete game changer whether you’re smoking it or not. I promise you the most flavorful and tender turkey you’ve ever tasted! Happy holidays Loves! truly, MKR
Photography, Rustic White
Buttermilk Brined Smoked Turkey
2014-11-25 14:34:30
Ingredients
- 2 oz. turkey brine, I prefer Williams-Sonoma's Apple & Spices Brine (just use the entire jar)
- 1 quart water
- 4 quarts buttermilk
- 1 fresh turkey (preferably organic and/or free range), 12 to 18 lb., neck, heart and gizzard removed
- 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 Lemons (cut in half)
- 1 head of garlic (cut in half, leave the peel on)
- 2 white onions (cut into quarters)
- Twine
- Extra large brining bags
- 1 small bottle of apple juice
- mesquite chips for the smoker
- 1 disposable turkey pan
Instructions
- In a large pot over high heat, combine the turkey brine and water and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until the majority of the salt dissolves, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Let the brine mixture cool to room temperature. Add buttermilk and mix.
- Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water, pat dry, and place in a large brining bag.
- Carefully pour the buttermilk brine mixture into the bag. Seal the bag, pressing out the air, and place in a large stockpot or other container large enough to hold the turkey.
- Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
- Remove the turkey from the brine; discard the brine. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Trim off and discard the excess fat. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large roasting pan.
- Add lemons, garlic, and onions to the cavity of the turkey and truss legs with kitchen twine.
- Melt the butter and rub the skin evenly with a basting brush.
- Let the turkey stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
- ...Smoking the Turkey
- Soak mesquite chips for a few hours in water.
- Heat egg to 600F-700F degrees, add soaked chips. Set place setter with legs up (this allows for indirect heat smoking). Place turkey on turkey rack and place entire turkey and rack in disposable turkey pan. During this process the chips will naturally bring temperature down to desired temp of 250F.
- Smoke turkey for 60 minutes at 250F, check periodically to see if the legs or breast are burning, if so tent with tin foil. Please note when smoking a turkey the skin will appear much, much darker than roasting, this is a not a sign of being burnt. Refer to pictures above.
- Continue smoking for 10 hours at 250F, checking periodically and basting with apple juice. Turkey is fully cooked when the internal temperature of the breast reaches 175F.
- Transfer the turkey to a carving board, cover loosely with foil and let rest for 30 to 60 minutes before carving. While resting, turkey will continue to cook reaching a final internal temperature of 180F.
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Chestnut Focaccia Stuffing
2014-11-25 14:44:03
Ingredients
- 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3-4 halves of garlic, diced
- 4 celery stalks, diced
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 2 cups peeled and roasted chestnuts, halved
- 1 package (1 lb.) La Brea Bakery focaccia stuffing
- 4-6 cups vegetable, turkey or chicken stock, warmed
- Thyme
- Butter
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 375°F.
- In a large fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the garlic, onion, celery, salt and pepper and sauté until soft and translucent, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the chestnuts. Transfer the onion mixture to a very large bowl.
- Stir in the stock 1/2 cup at a time, making sure it is completely absorbed into the croutons and does not pool in the bottom of the bowl. Taste a crouton; it should be moist throughout but not crunchy or mushy. You may not need all of the stock.
- Transfer the stuffing to a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown and crisp, 25 to 35 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with thyme
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I LOVE smoked turkey! Yours is beautiful. I hope to get a chance to try it some day soon!
Crossing my fingers,
Natalie
oystersandpearls.net
That turkey looks fantastic – I would love to serve mine whole to the table but we always slice it in the kitchen.
Crossing my fingers that I am the lucky winner! Your table is gorgeous and the turkey sounds amazing! This year will be the first where I will be cooking the turkey for our family and I will have to try your recipe. And to answer the question: what I love most about Thanksgiving is creating new traditions with my young children!