Kittencals Buttermilk Poultry Brine For Chicken Or Turkey Recipes

KITTENCAL'S BUTTERMILK POULTRY BRINE (FOR CHICKEN OR TURKEY)

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix or whisk the buttermilk, shallots, garlic, salt, sugar, cumin (if using) and black pepper until the sugar and salt is completely dissolved.
• Rinse the chicken in cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
• Place the chicken in the buttermilk mixture; toss with clean hands to coat the chicken in the mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 8-24 hours.
• Rinse the chicken quick and just slightly under cold water to remove the onions and garlic if desired before cooking or grilling.
• Grill or oven-bake as desired.

BUTTERMILK BRINED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Add the chicken, buttermilk, 2 sprigs of rosemary, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to a large resealable plastic bag. Let marinate, refrigerated, for 4 hours or up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Add the potatoes, 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large bowl. Toss together until everything is coated. Pour onto a rimmed baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Reserve the bowl. Bake for 40 minutes.
• Add the broccoli to the same bowl. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a little lemon zest. The Add broccoli to the baking sheet with the potatoes and toss to combine. Return to the oven and cook until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade one by one, shaking the remaining buttermilk off lightly, and add to the skillet. Cook until the thighs are slightly charred, 6 to 7 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side until fully cooked, another 6 to 7 minutes. Serve the chicken with a side of potatoes and broccoli. Garnish with fresh rosemary and lemon juice.

BUTTERMILK-BRINED SPICE-RUBBED TURKEY

Steps:

• Brine the turkey: Bring 2 cups water, the salt, brown sugar, 1 halved garlic head and 10 thyme sprigs to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from the heat and add 6 cups cold water; let cool to room temperature. Whisk the buttermilk, hot sauce, mustard and sliced onion in a large bowl, then whisk in the salt-sugar mixture. Place the turkey in a brining bag or extra-large pot. Pour the brine over the turkey, seal or cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Position a rack in the lowest part of the oven; remove the other racks and preheat to 350˚. Set a rack in a large roasting pan. Remove the turkey from the brine, letting the excess drip off as much as possible, and transfer, breast-side up, to the rack. Pat the turkey dry. Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Combine the paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, cayenne and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl. Stuff the turkey cavity with the remaining 1 halved garlic head and 10 thyme sprigs and the quartered onion; tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Tuck the wings under the body. Season the turkey all over with salt and brush with the melted butter. Coat the turkey with the spice mixture.
• Roast the turkey 1 1/2 hours, then baste with the pan drippings. (Add 1/4 cup water to the roasting pan if it's too dry.) Continue to roast, basting every 30 minutes, until the skin is crisp and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165˚, 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before carving.

SIMPLE CHICKEN BRINE

Steps:

• Pour the warm water into a container that is twice the volume of the water. Pour in the salt, sugar, soy sauce, and olive oil. Stir until the sugar and salt have dissolved, then allow the brine to cool to room temperature.
• To use, place chicken in the brine, cover, and refrigerate two hours for skinless breasts, 4 hours for bone-in pieces, and 4 hours to overnight for whole chickens. Drain and pat the chicken dry before cooking. One gallon of brine is enough for 6 pounds of whole chicken or bone-in chicken pieces, and up to 10 pounds of skinless, boneless chicken breasts.

BUTTERMILK-BRINED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• The day before you want to cook the chicken, remove the wingtips by cutting through the first wing joint with poultry shears or a sharp knife. Reserve for stock. Season chicken generously with salt and let it sit for 30 minutes.
• Stir 2 tablespoons kosher salt or 4 teaspoons fine sea salt into the buttermilk to dissolve. Place the chicken in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag and pour in the buttermilk. (If the chicken won't fit in a gallon-size bag, double up 2 plastic produce bags to prevent leaks and tie the bag with twine.)
• Seal the bag, squish the buttermilk all around the chicken, place on a rimmed plate, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours. If you're so inclined, you can turn the bag periodically so every part of the chicken gets marinated, but that's not essential.
• Pull the chicken from the fridge an hour before you plan to cook it. Heat the oven to 425 degrees with a rack set in the center position.
• Remove the chicken from the plastic bag and scrape off as much buttermilk as you can without being obsessive. Tightly tie together the legs with a piece of butcher's twine. Place the chicken in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or a shallow roasting pan.
• Slide the pan all the way to the back of the oven on the center rack. Rotate the pan so that the legs are pointing toward the rear left corner and the breast is pointing toward the center of the oven. (The back corners tend to be the hottest spots in the oven, so this orientation protects the breast from overcooking before the legs are done.) Pretty quickly you should hear the chicken sizzling.
• After about 20 minutes, when the chicken starts to brown, reduce the heat to 400 degrees and continue roasting for 10 minutes.
• Move the pan so the legs are facing the rear right corner of the oven. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes or so, until the chicken is brown all over and the juices run clear when you insert a knife down to the bone between the leg and the thigh. If the skin is getting too brown before it is cooked through, use a foil tent. Remove it to a platter and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.