Orange-Tea-Bourbon Brined Turkey With Honey Mustard Butter

Food Network Kitchens

Recipe courtesy Food Network Magazine

Picture of Orange-Tea-Bourbon Brined Turkey With Honey Mustard Butter Recipe Photo: Orange-Tea-Bourbon Brined Turkey With Honey Mustard Butter Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
  • Rate This Recipe
  • Read 4 Reviews
Total Time:
9 hr 0 min
Prep
8 hr 0 min
Cook
1 hr 0 min
Yield:
--
Level:
Easy
x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please limit to 20 characters

Saving Recipe

Adding Recipe

Or Do Not Add

Success

This recipe was saved to your Folder_Name folder.

x

Save To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to save this recipe to your Recipe Box!!

25 Characters Max

Enter Time:

:
:

You can create up to five timers

Ingredients

  • 1 fresh or frozen turkey (1 to 1 1/2 pounds per person)
  • Zest (in wide strips) and juice of 5 oranges
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 12 black tea bags
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 6 cloves
  • 12 peppercorns
  • 1 cup bourbon
  • 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons spicy brown mustard

Directions

Cook's Note: This recipe is not for a Kosher Bird, which is already brined. Use only for a frozen or fresh bird.

Unwrap the turkey and remove the neck and giblets (reserve for gravy). Rinse the turkey under cold water and pat dry. Fill a large pot with 2 quarts water; add the orange zest, orange juice, 2 cups kosher salt, the sugar, black tea bags, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns and bourbon. Bring to a boil, then simmer 10 minutes. Add 4 quarts cold water and let cool. Submerge the turkey in the brine, adding water to cover, if necessary. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.

Remove the turkey from the brine; rinse and pat dry. Mix the butter, honey, dijon mustard and spicy brown mustard until combined. Reserve 4 tablespoons of the butter, then rub the rest under the turkey skin on the breasts and legs. Rub 2 tablespoons of the reserved butter on the skin; chill and save the rest for your gravy. Let the turkey stand 30 minutes at room temperature before roasting.

Put the oven rack in the lowest position; preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a large roasting pan, tucking the wing tips under. Tie the drumsticks together with twine. Roast until the skin is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 15 minutes per pound. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before carving. Whisk the reserved 2 tablespoons flavored butter into your gravy just before serving, if desired.

Photograph by Yunhee Kim

Print Recipe

Browse Reviews by Keywordnew!

Loading review filters...

COMMENT ON THIS PROJECT

    

Sign in

All fields are required.

E-mail Address:

Password:

Remember me on this computer

Signing in

Please enter your email address and we will send your password

E-mail Address

Your password has been sent and should arrive in your mailbox very soon.

Not a member?

Sign up for My Food Network to share photos, show off your style, and connect to an enthusiastic and helpful community.

It's free and easy.

Review This Recipe

You must be logged in to review this recipe.

Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 4 reviews

  • on November 22, 2012

    Flag

    I made this turkey last year and it was the moistest I've ever eaten! This is now my go to recipe for turkey. My family thoroughly enjoyed this recipe and I was quite impressed!

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on November 16, 2012

    Flag

    We tried this recipie with the butter and it was amazing. I agree with Pamecord that the meat was super moist and the flavor was not overpowering but complimenting the natural flavor of the bird. Even the butter did not give the meat a mustard flavor. Surprizingly, only the tea was noticeable in the skin if you tasted the skin alone. The flavors married nicely and I think it is best described as savory or comfort turkey.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
  • on October 30, 2012

    Flag

    I made this turkey last Thanksgiving (minus the flavored butter and my family LOVED it! The meat was super moist and the flavor was not over powering. It was a nice change from my mom's classic "plain" turkey.

    people found this review Helpful.
    Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No
Advertisement

Free Recipe of the Day Newsletter

Let Food Network chefs plan what's for dinner, with quick and easy recipes delivered to your inbox daily.

Ads by Google

© 2013 Television Food Network G.P. All rights reserved.