Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

Posts Tagged ‘Giblets’

Maple Marinated Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

What You Need:

1 (12 lb.) whole turkey, thawed
1 qt. hot water
1 C kosher salt
4 qt. cold water
1 C maple syrup
1 onion, sliced thin
4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
10 black peppercorns
5 bay leaves
4 tsp. lemon zest
2 cloves, whole
6 tbsp. butter, melted

How to Make It:

Clean the turkey by removing the giblets and neck and rinsing the turkey inside and out with cold water.
Place the hot water into a large soup pot.
Add the salt and whisk until the salt is completely dissolved.
When the salt has dissolved whisk in the cold water and the syrup.
Place the onion, garlic cloves, peppercorns, bay leaves, lemon zest and cloves into the pot.
Place the pot in the refrigerator until the temperature reaches 40 degrees.
Fill a large zip lock freezer bag with ice.
Place the turkey into the cold mixture and lay the ice on top of the turkey to keep it submerged under the water.
Allow the turkey to marinate over night.
Set up and light the smoker as indicated by the manufacturer on the box.
Preheat the smoker to 275 degrees.
Remove the turkey from the marinade, pat dry and discard the marinade.
Baste the turkey with the melted butter.
Smoke the turkey 3 hours 30 minutes or until the thigh temperature reaches 180 degrees.
Allow the turkey to stand on a cutting board 45 minutes before carving.

This Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Serves 15

Brining a turkey helps keep the turkey moist.  When smoking a turkey it can become quite dry but by marinating it over night the meat stays juicy and tender.  Don’t have a pot big enough, line a crisper drawer with a large garbage bag instead.

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Oven Roasted Marmalade Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

What You Need:

1 (12 lb.) whole turkey, thawed 1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper 1 orange, cut into wedges and remove seeds 2 tbsp. orange marmalade
1/4 C red currant jelly
1/2 tsp. anise seed, coarsely ground

How to Make It:

Set the oven temperature to 325 degrees and allow the oven to heat up while prepping the turkey.
Remove the giblets and neck, rinse the turkey with cool water and pat dry.
Salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity.
Place the orange wedges inside the cavity and fold the neck skin over the back of the turkey.
Spray a rack with a non stick cooking spray and place it in a shallow roasting pan.
Place the turkey on the rack being sure the legs are in a tucked position.
Roast the turkey 3 hours being sure to baste often with the juices in the bottom of the pan.
Place the orange marmalade and currant jelly into a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave on high 30 seconds or until the two melt together.
Add the anise seeds and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated together.
After 3 hours remove the turkey from the oven and baste the whole turkey with the marmalade mixture.
Return to the oven for 20 minutes or until the thigh temperature reaches 180 degrees.
Remove the turkey and let it rest 30 minutes before carving.

This Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Serves 12

Basting the turkey every 15 to 30 minutes ensures that the turkey skin stays moist and doesn’t overcook during the roasting process.

Citrus and Wine Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe

What You Need:

1 (15 lb.) whole turkey, thawed
2 celery stalks, cut into quarters
1 yellow onion, cut into quarters
1 C rosé wine, divided
1/2 C unsalted butter, melted and divided
1/4 C orange juice
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. onion powder

How to Make It:

Clean the turkey by removing the giblets and rinsing the turkey with cold water being sure to dry the turkey well with paper towel.
Place the turkey, breast up, on a V shaped rack in a shallow roasting pan.
Place the celery and onion into the cavity of the turkey.
Add 1/2 C of the wine to the cavity.
Tie the legs closed with twine and pin back the wings.
Brush the outside of the turkey with 1/4 C of the melted butter.
Bring the oven temperature up to 325 degrees F.
Place in the oven uncovered and allow the turkey to roast 1 hour.
Place the remaining melted butter into a mixing bowl.
Add the orange juice, lemon juice and remaining wine.
Stir well to incorporate the flavors together.
Add the salt, paprika and onion powder to the mixture and stir together well.
After 1 hour baste the turkey with the melted butter mixture and continue basting every 30 minutes for 2 hours and 30 minutes or until the turkey reaches an internal temperature of 180 degrees.
Allow the turkey to rest for 45 minutes before carving.

This Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Serves 15

When using vegetables such as celery and onion in the cavity of the turkey it is best to discard them when the turkey is done. The vegetables become mushy and the taste is very bland when used in this way.

Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe with a Soy Sauce Glaze

What You Need:

1 (16 lb.) whole turkey, thawed
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. molasses

How to Make It:

Bring the oven temperature up to 325 degrees F.
Spray a rack with a non stick cooking spray and place it in a roasting pan.
Clean the turkey with cold water and remove the giblets and neck.
Pat the turkey dry both inside and out.
Rub the turkey all over, inside and out, with the salt and pepper.
Mix the soy sauce and molasses together in a small mixing bowl.
Brush the mixture over the entire outside of the turkey.
Place the turkey on the rack in the roasting pan.
Cover the turkey with foil.
Roast 4 hours, basing with the pan juices occasionally, until the internal temperature of the thigh reaches 180 degrees.
Remove the turkey and allow it to rest 30 minutes before carving.

This Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Serves 16

When using a molasses based glaze the turkey skin turns dark very quickly.  Always be sure to cover the turkey tightly with the foil.  This will ensure a golden brown turkey every time.

What You Need:

1 (15 lb.) whole turkey, thawed
3 tbsp. canola oil
2 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. cold water
2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

How to Make It:

Clean the turkey well with cold water and pat dry.
Remove the neck and giblets and discard or save for another use.
Twist the wing tips to hold them back.
Brush the turkey with the canola oil being sure to cover the whole turkey.
Spray a rack with a non stick cooking spray and place it in a deep roasting pan.
Place the turkey, breast up, on the prepared rack.
Cover the breast and legs loosely with foil.
Bring the oven temperature up to 325 degrees F.
Roast the turkey 2 hours.
Remove the foil and continue roasting 45 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and water.
Sprinkle in the chili powder, red pepper, garlic powder, allspice, cumin, salt and pepper.
Whisk the mixture until completely combined.
Brush the turkey with the glaze being sure to cover the whole turkey.
Continue roasting an additional 45 minutes basting every 15 minutes if necessary.
Remove the turkey and allow it to stand at least 20 minutes before carving.

This Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe Serves 15

When glazing a turkey never add the glaze until the turkey is almost done usually the last 30 to 45 minutes of roasting time.  If you glaze the turkey to soon any sugars in the glaze will caramelize and cause the skin to darken and become hard.