Jeffs Turkey Brine Recipes

JEFF'S TURKEY BRINE

Steps:

• Stir vegetable broth, water, salt, pepper, sugar, garlic powder, thyme, and rosemary together in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring regularly, until the salt and sugar are dissolved, about 5 minutes. Cool completely.
• Mix brine and ice together in a large container.

ROASTED TURKEY AND ROOT VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Coat the entire turkey breast in about half of the BBQ Chip Dust. Place on a sheet pan fitted with a rack and let it dry brine in the fridge, uncovered, for 8 hours and up to overnight.
• Install an air fryer searing plate in an air fryer and set the temperature to 400 degrees F for 35 minutes for the plate to preheat.
• In a large bowl, toss the parsnips, sweet potatoes and baby potatoes with the avocado oil. Sprinkle with the remaining BBQ Chip Dust and toss until coated.
• Remove the searing plate and place the turkey breast skin-side down on one side. Arrange the vegetables on the other side. Cook until the turkey skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes (see Cook's Note). Flip the turkey breast and continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165 degrees F and the root vegetables are tender, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the turkey rest for 10 minutes.
• Carefully remove the rib bone (if there is one) from the turkey breast and carve. Serve with the root vegetables.
• Combine the brown sugar, salt, chile powder, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder and cayenne in a small bowl and mix until blended. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight resealable container.

CRISPY-SKINNED HERB-ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Three days before cooking the turkey, rinse, clean and dry the turkey thoroughly.
• In a food processor, pulse the salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, bay leaves, thyme, orange zest and rosemary until still coarse but uniform, about 10 times. Rub the inside of the turkey with the salt mix. Then carefully slip your fingers under the breast skin and rub a liberal amount UNDER the skin. Flip the turkey on its side and sprinkle more of the salt mixture on the thigh, wing and leg. Repeat on other side.
• Place the bird in a large zipper-top bag or brining bag. (If neither is available, cover in plastic wrap.) Place the bird on a wire rack on a sheet pan breast-side up, and place in the fridge away from any raw food (on a lower shelf). Leave in the fridge for 3 days.
• On the night before cooking, remove the turkey from the fridge and take it out of the plastic. The skin should be dry and the salt should be dissolved. If any large patches of moisture are present, wipe with paper towels. Place back in the fridge, uncovered, for another 8 hours to dry out.
• On the day of, take the turkey out of the fridge 1 hour before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Fit a roasting pan with a wire v-rack.
• Put the turkey in the roasting pan and brush with the melted butter. Roast for 30 minutes. Turn the heat down to 325 degrees F and roast, basting occasionally, until the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about another 2 hours. Let the turkey rest for 30 to 45 minutes before carving.

TURKEY BRINE

Steps:

• Fill a large container or stock pot with 1.5 litres cold water and set aside. The pot should be large enough to hold your turkey plus 3 litres water. Pour another 1.5 litres cold water into a large pan over a low-medium heat. Tip in the salt, sugar, bay, thyme, peppercorns, orange zest and coriander seeds, and whisk until the salt and sugar have completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, then pour into the container or stock pot and leave to cool completely.
• Weigh the turkey and carefully add it to the container, ensuring it's completely submerged in the brine. Leave to brine for roughly 1 hr per 500g to ensure succulent meat and a flavourful bird, then drain well (discarding the aromatics), pat dry and roast.

DRY BRINE - TURKEY (JEFF) RECIPE

Steps:

• Simply sprinkle kosher salt all over the outside of the turkey, then place it in the fridge overnight (8 - 10 hours). Go more by looks than precisely measuring the salt. Just try to get good coverage on the entire surface area. Truth be told, it would be hard to over do it. Try to get the salt on ALL surface areas, to include the back and down in all the folds and crevices.