Kentucky Roasted Turkey Recipes

OVEN-ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper in a bowl. Sprinkle some of the spice rub inside the cavity of the turkey. Separate the skin from the breast meat with your fingers, starting at the top of the breast and sliding to the right and left, then working down. Massage some of the rub onto the meat under the skin. Sprinkle the remaining rub on the turkey's skin. Place the turkey on a sheet tray and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours so the flavors can marry.
• Set a rack at the lowest position in the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Tie the legs together and tuck the wing tips under. Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Drizzle the outside of the turkey with a few tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the turkey about 3 hours, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Transfer the turkey to a platter, cover loosely with foil and let rest 30 minutes before carving.

KENTUCKY HOT BROWNS

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Place the egg bread on a baking sheet, place under the broiler, and heat on both sides for 20 seconds just to warm through.
• Top each slice of bread with 2 to 3 slices of turkey, ladle sauce over the top, and divide the Cheddar and Parmesan over the top of each slice. Place under the broiler and cook until bubbly and the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and top each slice with 2 slices tomato and 2 slices of bacon. Sprinkle each slice with parsley and serve immediately, 2 open-face sandwiches per person.
• 4 large eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• Salt
• 8 (1/2-inch thick) slices 1 day-old white bread, such as Pullman or Pain de mie
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Whisk together the eggs, milk, and salt in a medium bowl. Dip each slice of bread in the mixture and let sit about 30 seconds, or until completely soaked through.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook 4 slices of the bread at a time until golden brown on both sides. Remove and place on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining butter, oil, and bread.
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons bourbon
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 (4 to 5-pound) turkey breast
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Whisk together syrup, mustard, and bourbon in a small bowl and season with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Set glaze aside.
• Rub entire turkey breast with butter and season with salt and pepper. Place in a small roasting pan and roast for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue roasting until a thermometer inserted into the center registers 155 degrees F, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. During the last 15 minutes of roasting, brush the breast with the glaze. Remove from the oven, loosely tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup grated sharp white Cheddar
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Melt butter over medium heat in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, bring to a boil and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened and the flour has cooked out, about 4 to 5 minutes. Whisk in cheese and cook until melted. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper, to taste.

NEW ENGLAND ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Rinse turkey under cold water and place on a rack in its roasting pan while you make the brine.
• For the brine, combine salt, sugar, bay leaves, pepper and herbs with 2 1/2 gallons water in a pot or cooler large enough to hold turkey comfortably. Stir until salt and sugar dissolve. Put turkey in brine and refrigerate or ice overnight, at least 12 hours.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 425 degrees. Remove bird from brine, drain well and pat very dry with paper towels. Discard brine. Set turkey, breast side up, on a roasting rack set into a large roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper, then fill the cavity with onion, celery and carrots. Fold wings under the bird and tie its legs together with butcher's twine. Roast for 30 minutes.
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees and roast approximately 3 hours more, basting bird every 30 minutes with drippings and tenting it with foil if skin is turning too dark, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 165 degrees. Transfer to a cutting board or platter and allow to rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

KENTUCKY ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• NOTE: FOR THIS RECIPE YOU MUST BEGIN WITH A VERY CLEAN OVEN! (STEP ONE): PLACE one fresh (or properly, completely thawed) 16 lb turkey in a large colander in sink; REMOVE neck and gizzards from one fresh (save neck and gizzards for stuffing and/or gravy if desired); RINSE turkey inside and out under cold running water above colander; ALLOW to drain; MEASURE the BRINE BASE ingredients into a sterilized 5 gallon bucket: 8 quarts (32 cups) water, 3/4 cup unseasoned meat tenderizer, 6 tablespoons Accent seasoning; SLOWLY lower turkey into the bucket with brine; COVER; ADJUST refrigerator racks to fit the 5 gallon bucket; PLACE bucket in refrigerator between 12 to 24 hours (if desired you may inject the brine solution into turkey evenly, using a poultry brine injector).
• PREPARE the stuffing for Recipe #490665 refrigerate until chilled; REMOVE top rack from oven; PLACE bottom rack in the lowest position; PREHEAT oven to 450°F.
• SOFTEN 1 stick unsalted butter to room temperature; FUNNEL 2 tablespoons Recipe #422315 (use seasoning mix only without added flour) into an empty spice shaker; SET aside.
• REMOVE turkey from brine after marinating; SET turkey again in the large colander in sink; BRING a large pot of water to near-boiling; CAREFULLY pour scalding hot water over turkey skin and into cavities; ALLOW turkey to drain and cool in colander; LOOSEN skin from turkey from the neck end by sliding fingers under the skin to the end of the breast without tearing skin; APPLY the butter well under the beast skin and on every outer surface, followed by a sprinkle of the reserved seasoning in spice shaker; TURN turkey breast side down and sprinkle cavity of turkey well with the seasoning; FILL neck cavity with prepared stuffing without packing; CLOSE skin flap over and sew-fasten with toothpicks; TURN turkey over; TUCK the wing tips below turkey to secure in place. FILL the large cavity of turkey loosely with stuffing; TIE legs together securely using kitchen twine; SPRINKLE turkey liberally and evenly with the reserved seasoning in spice shaker (you don't have to use all of the seasoning, just season turkey well).
• ADD the prepared onions, carrots and celery to the bottom of a large roasting pan; ARRANGE the sage sprigs and bay leaves over vegetables; POUR 2 cups water into roasting pan to cover herbs completely; PLACE a roasting rack over vegetables and herbs in pan; PLACE turkey onto rack; RUB the outer surfaces of turkey evenly and generously with the remaining RUB; PLACE turkey into preheated 450°F oven on low rack.
• FIRST, set oven timer for 45 minutes; ROAST turkey at 450°F until timer sounds; REDUCE oven temperature to 325°F; SET oven timer for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• INSERT an instant-read thermometer without touching bone into the thickest part of the breast to read 165°F -- and in the thigh -- 180°F; OTHERWISE, continue roasting at 325°F and basting if desired) and reading temperature of turkey, until the temperatures are reached.
• TRANSFER turkey to a serving platter; COVER turkey loosely with foil; ALLOW turkey to set between 20-30 minutes before carving.
• CARVE properly for optimum enjoyment.
• SERVE and enjoy!

ALWAYS-TENDER ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic. Pat turkey dry. Carefully loosen skin of turkey; rub butter mixture under the skin. Sprinkle salt and pepper over skin of turkey and inside cavity. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together., Place flour in oven bag and shake to coat. Place oven bag in a roasting pan; add celery and onions. Place turkey, breast side up, over vegetables. Cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag; close bag with tie provided., Bake at 350° for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 180°. Let stand for 15 minutes before carving. Skim fat and thicken drippings if desired., If preparing turkey the day before, pour drippings into a measuring cup; skim fat. Arrange slices in an ungreased shallow roasting pan; pour drippings over turkey. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate overnight., The next day, bake at 350° for 45-65 minutes or until heated through.

BRINED AND ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• In a pot large enough to accommodate the turkey, combine 2 gallons water, the bourbon, 2 cups salt, and the sugar. Stir to dissolve salt and sugar. Add turkey, and refrigerate for 18 to 36 hours.
• Remove turkey from the brine, and dry well with paper towels. Let stand, covered, at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons salt and the white and black pepper. Rub the inside and outside of the turkey with the salt-and-pepper mixture. Fill the large cavity and neck cavity with as much stuffing as they hold comfortably. Do not pack tightly, or the stuffing will not cook through. (If all the stuffing does not fit, simply transfer the extra to a buttered baking dish, and bake covered, for 30 minutes and uncovered for 15 minutes more in a 375 degree oven.) Tie the legs together loosely with kitchen twine. Fold the neck flap under, and secure with toothpicks. Place the turkey, breast side up, on a roasting rack in a heavy metal roasting pan. Fold the wing tips under the turkey.
• Soak a clean kitchen towel in the chicken stock. Lift the towel out of the stock, and squeeze it slightly, leaving it very damp. Spread it evenly over the turkey. Place the turkey in the oven so breast is facing the front of the oven. Roast for 3 hours, basting every 30 minutes.
• Carefully remove the towel. Turn roasting pan so the breast is facing the back of the oven. Baste turkey with pan juices. The skin gets fragile as it browns, so baste carefully. Add onions, carrots, celery, and parsley stems to the roasting pan around the turkey. Roast 1 hour more, basting after 30 minutes.
• Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Do not poke into a bone. The temperature should reach 165 degrees and the turkey should be golden brown. The breast does not need to be checked for temperature. If the legs are not fully cooked, baste the turkey, return to the oven, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.
• When fully cooked, remove the turkey from the oven, and let it rest, covered, for at least 20 minutes. Transfer to a carving board. Make the gravy, and serve with turkey.

TENDER OVEN-ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325ºF. Place turkey, skin side up, on rack in large shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of meat and does not touch bone. Roast uncovered 1 hour.
• Mix butter, wine, thyme, salt, paprika and garlic. Brush turkey with half of the butter mixture. Roast 30 minutes; brush with remaining butter mixture. Roast about 1 hour longer or until thermometer reads 180ºF and juice of turkey is no longer pink when center is cut.
• Remove turkey from oven and let stand 15 minutes for easier carving.
• Meanwhile, pour pan drippings into measuring cup; skim fat from drippings. Add enough water to drippings to measure 2 cups. Heat drippings to boiling in 1-quart saucepan. Mix cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water; stir into drippings. Boil and stir 1 minute. Serve with turkey.