Cajun-Injected Spicy Turkey

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2007

Show: The Essence of EmerilEpisode: Thanksgiving

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (16)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(16)

Cook Time:
2 hr 30 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
10 to 12 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 2 hr 30 min
Total:: 2 hr 45 min

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon concentrated liquid crab and shrimp boil (recommended: Zatarian's)
1/4 cup apple cider
3/4 cup honey
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon ground allspice
1/2 cup Creole seasoning
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup finely minced garlic
1 (10 to 12-pound) turkey, rinsed well inside and out, patted dry
4 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 cups chicken broth, as needed for bottom of roasting pan

Directions

Make the marinade by combining the Worcestershire sauce, crab boil, apple cider, honey, beer, salt, allspice, Creole seasoning, cayenne, olive oil, and minced garlic in a blender and process until very smooth, about 5 minutes. Fill a large syringe* and inject turkey in the breast and thigh area, as well as the back, wings, and legs, with at least 2/3 of the marinade. You will have to fill the syringe numerous times.

Preheat the oven to 420 degrees F and line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil.

Season the injected turkey well both inside and out with the kosher salt and black pepper. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan lined with aluminum foil and pour the remaining marinade all over the turkey. Bake the turkey uncovered for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F, add 1 cup of the chicken broth to the roasting pan, and continue to bake the turkey until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deepest part between the thigh and the leg registers 165 degrees F. (If the turkey begins to brown too much, tent loosely with aluminum foil until it is done. Also, add more broth as necessary to keep the bottom of the roasting pan from burning.)

When the turkey is done, remove it from the oven and set aside to rest at least 20 minutes before carving.

* Large syringes designed especially for injecting turkeys may be purchased at many grocery stores in the spice / marinade / seasoning sections; many folks inject turkeys before frying them.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Cajun-Injected Spicy Turkey
Cynthia Marysville, WA 02-04-2010
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My friends rave about it
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I rosted a turkey for new years and they all loved it. I can hardly wait till summer and I use it in deep fat frying.
recipe Cajun-Injected Spicy Turkey
Sarah Bellevue, WA 11-08-2009
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Yum!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Tried this one out last year for Thanksgiving for something new. I toned down the spiced a little bit for the less spice... loving in the family and it was soo good! Definitely try it if you are looking for something new and different. Also, it was my turn to make the turkey and also my first time ever!! It was very easy!Read more
recipe Cajun-Injected Spicy Turkey
shaunna Manhattan Beach, CA 12-10-2008
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A great spicy turkey!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this Turkey for Thanksgiving after reading the great reviews. It is a spicy one, but delicious. Moist, complex... flavors, and even better the second day. The marinade was too thick for my syringe so I basted often and it came out great. My family has requested it for Christmas dinner as well. One tip; rather than run around town to hunt down the allusive 'concentrated crab/shrimp boil' I ordered the exact type from Zatarain's website, it arrived in a few days and gave it a truly authentic Cajun flavor.Read more
recipe Cajun-Injected Spicy Turkey
Michelle Alexandria, VA 12-01-2008
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Too Hot
Rated: 2 stars out of 5

Not a winner in my book. The turkey was nice and moist, but too hot to eat. We like spicy in our family, but this was too... much. We used the juices from the pan to make the gravy, thus, everything we put gravy on too hot to enjoy. There were no going back for seconds or a desire to eat turkey the next day. Read more
recipe Cajun-Injected Spicy Turkey
Baron Bowie, MD 11-29-2008
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What a surprize?
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Take along a Turkey to Toronto with everything including the recipe. It was an instant hit for Christmas Dinner. One small... problem,being from Jamaica and having to be outside in Toronto at Christmas Frying Turkey????? But it was all worth it.Thanks a million Read more
recipe Cajun-Injected Spicy Turkey
Delena Oakland, CA 11-28-2008
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Sipmply beautiful!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I really dont like turkey. OK I hate turkey usually. But when I was given a free turkey I had to find a way to cook it... without it coming out tasting like cardboard. This recipe is perfect. Simply perfect!! Jucy, favorful & moist all the way through! I would have never believed it. But I LOVE it!!! I will be making another for Christmas! Thank you Emril!!Read more