Ingredients
Brine:
- 1 gallon water
- 1/2 ounce ground cloves
- 1/2 ounce ground ginger
- 4 ounces cracked black peppercorns
- 12 bay leaves
- 1 pound kosher salt
- 24 ounces honey
- 24 ounces maple syrup
- 1 (10-pound) whole fresh turkey, giblets and neck removed and reserved for stock
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves
- 2 apples, quartered and cored
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 2 rosemary sprigs
- 3 sprigs sage
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- 1 cup cubed carrots
- 1 cup cubed celery
- 1 cup cubed onions
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/2 cup Madeira wine
- 4 cups turkey stock, recipe follows
- 1 sprig thyme
- 2 sprigs parsley
- Beurre manie (2 ounces butter mixed with 2 ounces flour until it forms a soft dough)
- Salt and pepper
Directions
In a large stockpot, bring the water, cloves, ginger, black peppercorn, bay leaves and salt to a boil. Lower to a simmer and stir in the honey and maple syrup until well blended. Turn off heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold tap water. Reserve the neck and specialty meats for pan gravy. Set the turkey in the brine, making sure that the turkey is fully immersed in the brine. Place a weight on top of the turkey to make sure it is always covered with brine. Marinate for at least 4 hours to overnight, depending on the weight of the turkey, in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a shallow roasting pan, place the carrots, celery and onions. Remove turkey from brine.
Mix together the butter, garlic, chopped rosemary, and sage to make a compound butter. Using your hands, loosen to the skin from the breast by gently inserting your fingers between the skin and the flesh. Rub the compound butter underneath the skin. Insert the apples, onions, and whole rosemary and sage into the cavity of the turkey.
Place the turkey over the vegetables, breast-side up, in the roasting pan. Tuck the wings back and under the turkey. Using kitchen twine, tie the legs together. This will make a compact shape and will create a great presentation. Drizzle the turkey with olive oil and rub it into the skin. Roast the turkey to at least 165 degrees F in the breast, about 2 1/2 hours. If the skin gets too dark during roasting, tent with foil.
Transfer turkey to a platter and allow to cool. Meanwhile, prepare the pan gravy.
Tilt the pan and skim as much fat as possible off the juice with a spoon. Set the pan on 2 burners set on medium heat. Deglaze roasting pan with white wine and Madeira. Scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any brown bits. Reduce until only a quarter remains. Add the turkey stock, thyme and parsley. Bring to a boil and strain into a saucepan. Bring back to a boil, skim and lower to a simmer. Whisk in the beurre manie until well incorporated and continue to cook until gravy has thickened. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Turkey Stock:
- Giblets and neck from 1 turkey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup port wine
- 1 cup roughly chopped onions
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped celery
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 5 peppercorns
- Water, to cover
Heat a saucepan over high heat. When the pan is hot, add the olive oil and heat. Add the neck and giblets and cook until browned all over, about 7 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and deglaze with the port. Return the pan to the heat and cook until the port is almost completely evaporated, about 10 minutes.
Add the carrots, onions, celery, rosemary and peppercorns. Cover with cold water by 4-inches. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, and simmer for 2 hours, adding a little more water, if necessary. Skim any scum that rises to the surface of the stock and discard.
Strain the stock. Use immediately, or cool and refrigerate for up to 4 days.













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By Ilyssa
on December 21, 2011
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I am not a turkey or gravy eater at all, I don't even like the texture, but... This recipe makes the most incredible turkey ever!!! The flavors of the turkey & gravy fall nothing short of my expectations from Wolfgang Puck. It is expensive but worth ever penny if you want a good turkey.
By oar249_8821542
Media, PA
on November 21, 2011
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Best Thanksgiving turkey! Have made this the past 4 years.
By TXmomrlnzs
san antonio, tx
on November 20, 2011
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I was watching Food Network back in 2004, and Mr. Puck was working this recipe on TV, I thought it sounded really good and used it for the first turkey that I cooked by myself, and it was and still is a success! This is by far the juiciest turkey that I've tried, not even my mother's roasted turkey was this juicy. On top of the brine, I inject a whole bottle of white wine, prepare extra compound butter and get it all over the turkey. I cannot wait to start brining and roasting my turkey!!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!
Read all 183 reviews