Spiced Turkey

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Oct. 18, 2013

Karen Ahmed prepares a moist and flavorful Turkey for any special occasion. Cooking a Turkey can be intimidating to most people but if you follow these simple step by step instructions, you will be very proud of your bird. This turkey is brined in a very simple brine recipe and then flavored with a spiced butter.

Ingredients

Turkey bird 14 Pound
For the brine
Water 4 Liter (3 ½ liter
Rock salt 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) (Soaked in brine and brine discarded)
Brown sugar 1/2 Cup (8 tbs)
Lemon 1 Medium , sliced
Bay leaves 5 Medium
Red chili powder 1 Teaspoon
Pepper 1 Teaspoon , freshly ground
For the spiced butter
Salted butter 1/2 Cup (8 tbs)
Cumin powder 1 Teaspoon
Pepper 1 Teaspoon
Garlic 4 Clove (20 gm) , roasted
Coriander leaves 1/2 Cup (8 tbs) , chopped finely
Other ingredients
Butter 1/4 Cup (4 tbs)
Carrot 2 Medium , peeled
Coriander leaves 15 Medium , stems cut
Mushrooms 15 Small
Green bell pepper 1 Medium , seeded, sliced

Directions

GETTING READY

For Brining

1. In a very large pot or bucket, add the salt and sugar and pour warm water. Mix well till dissolved. Pour the cold water and add the remaining ingredients for the brine.

2. Place the turkey in it and see to it that it is immersed. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for 24 hours.

For Marinating

3. In a large bowl mix the ingredients for the Spiced Butter till well combined. Retain some amount of the spiced butter in another bowl to be used during cooking.

4. Remove the turkey from the brine and place it on a flat work surface. Using kitchen towel pat dry the turkey well from all sides.

5. Using hands detach the skin of the turkey from the meat. Remove any giblets from the cavity and empty it.

6. Slather the turkey inside the skin and on the meat and inside the cavity generously with the spiced butter. Put the turkey in a plastic bag and refrigerate for another 24 hours.

For The Oven

7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

8. Transfer the marinated turkey into the roasting pan. Spread regular butter all over the turkey on top. Place the carrots, mushrooms, bell pepper, coriander leaves and lemon slices along with the giblets of turkey into the cavity and in the roasting pan.

MAKING

9. Cover the roasting pan and roast in the preheated oven for around 2 ½ hours. Baste them with the rendered liquid once in a while.

10. After 2 ½ hours remove the turkey from the oven and spread the retained spiced butter mixture on the top generously. Place it back in the oven uncovered for another 30 minutes. Spread the butter one more time on the turkey and continue to cook for another 30 minutes.

11. Remove from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes for the juices to settle before carving to serve.

SERVING

12. In a serving platter, serve the turkey with mashed potato, salad and breads of your choice.

TIPS

If the turkey is frozen defrost it before beginning the brining process.

Recipe Summary

Difficulty Level: Bit Difficult
Cook Time: 210 Minutes
Ready In: 210 Minutes
Servings: 20

Nutrition Facts

Serving size

Calories 580Calories from Fat 275

 % Daily Value*

Total Fat 31 g47.7%

Saturated Fat 11 g55%

Trans Fat 0 g

Cholesterol

Sodium 261 mg10.88%

Total Carbohydrates 7 g2.3%

Dietary Fiber %

Sugars 5 g

Protein 66 g132%

Vitamin A % Vitamin C %

Calcium % Iron %

*Based on a 2000 Calorie diet