Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan-Bourbon Glaze

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2007

Show: Paula's PartyEpisode: Deep Fried Thanksgiving

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (13)

Cook Time:
3 hr 30 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
3 to 5 servings

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: 25 min
Cook: 3 hr 30 min
Total:: 4 hr 5 min

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Ingredients

Turkey:

4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons minced garlic cloves
1 (12-pound) turkey
Stuffing, if desired

Glaze:

2 sticks butter
2 cups pecan halves
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup bourbon

For the turkey:

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a small mixing bowl combine all ingredients

Thoroughly rinse and dry the turkey well. Tuck the wings underneath the body and place the turkey in a roasting pan. Rub the butter mixture all over the turkey. Stuff, if desired. Roast for 18 minutes per pound (including stuffing weight, if using). The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh and deep into the stuffing registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear. Remove from the oven and loosely tent with foil. Let rest for 20 minutes before carving.

For the glaze:

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. When the butter just begins to bubble, stir in the pecan halves. Let the pecan halves gently fry in the butter until they take on a lightly toasted color. Then add the sugar, molasses and honey and stir until the sugar melts. Pour in the bourbon, raise the heat and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes until the glaze is smooth, except for the pecans, of course, and syrupy.

Let the glaze cool slightly and then pour it over the roasted turkey. Serve any extra glaze in the side at the table.

House Seasoning:

1 cup salt

1/4 cup black pepper

1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan-Bourbon Glaze
Leslie Chelsea , MI 12-03-2008
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Best Turkey I have ever Made!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe sounded so good I just had to try it. And it was everything I imagined! Everyone was picking at the skin before... it was even carved. And the turkey came out so moist and delicious. My only advice is to make the glaze right at the time when you need it. I made it a little early since I was cooking so many things at once and it started to solidify quickly. Which made it more difficult to pour over the turkey. Because the glaze was hardening fast, I ended up pouring it over the turkey before the bird was finished and it cooked into the skin slightly - so I recommend basting the bird with half the glaze 10-15 minutes before it done for extra cooked in flavor..Read more
recipe Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan-Bourbon Glaze
Jennifer Lake Worth, FL 11-30-2008
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The Best Turkey Ever
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This year I decided to conquer the Turkey on my own, and whenever I need a good recipe Paulas are what I follow! And once... again I was not sorry that I did. This was the best turkey I think I have ever had! It was so moist and delicious and my family absolutely loved it! Thanks Paula for another great recipe!Read more
recipe Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan-Bourbon Glaze
Irma Bristow, VA 11-29-2008
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Too dry
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

We tried this recipe this year. Everyone loved the glaze - but the turkey was way too dry. I think it's because it was... cooked at 375 degrees. That was just way too high a setting, I believe. Too bad...Read more
recipe Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan-Bourbon Glaze
Sasha Houston, TX 11-28-2008
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Too sweet for some people
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

This was a good glaze,but some people in my family did think it was too sweet. The turkey came out a little dry but that was... probably my fault. Read more
recipe Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan-Bourbon Glaze
Doug Chesapeake, VA 11-27-2008
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Don't know what happened
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

The turkey itself came out great, however the glaze was very sweet, even though I followed the directions completely, I am at... a lost as to why it came out as sweet as it did. Read more
recipe Roasted Turkey with Fried Pecan-Bourbon Glaze
Donna Sunset, UT 11-27-2008
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Fantastic moist turkey
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I wanted to try a new recipe for a turkey this year. I had my entire family over. My son whom is very picky loved the... turkey said it was fantabulosly moist and so did everyone else. My husband is a fireman and took the recipe to the station and cooked it. All the fireman went crazy over it thought it was the best-moist turkey they had ever had and are now trying to figure out how to tell their wives. Thanks Paula for a new family and station favorite. Donna Berkeley Sunset, UtahRead more