Easy, Moist Herb Roasted Turkey w/ Buttermilk Brine

By mrboyton

Ingredients

• (enough for a 10lb turkey. Double recipe if needed)
• BRINE
• 1 gallon of buttermilk
• 8 Tablesppon of Kosher salt
• 8 Tablespoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons of cumin
• 3 Tablespoons of peppercorns
• 6-8 fresh, chopped garlic cloves
• 1 large white onion, chopped
• Butter Rub #1
• 1 stick of butter, softened
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon of Poultry Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning
• Dry Rub #2
• 1 Tablespoon Poultry Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
• Final Butter Rub #3
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1 Tablespoon of rosemary
• 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika (can more if desired)
• 2 cups of chicken broth (to pour in roasting pan)

Details

Adapted from divascancook.com

Preparation

Step 1

Let’s Brine This Bad Boy!
Step 1.) Remove gibblet, neck, & gravy packets from inside of turkey. Place in the refrigerator or discard. Thoroughly wash your completely thawed turkey in cold water & set aside
Step 2.) In a large bowl add buttermilk, salt, sugar & cummin. Whisk until sugar & salt is dissolved.
Step 3.) Stir in the remaining ingredients.
Step 4.) Place turkey in brining bag (I used a regular roasting bag) & place it into a roaster pan or a large bucket or pot.
Step 5.) Pour the brine mixture into the bag. Gather the top of the bag tighty so that there is no air in the bag and the brine covers the turkey entirely. Tie the bag.
Step 6.) Place into the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours. The longer the better!
Step 7.) When done brining wash the turkey thoroughly with cold water.

Your Turkey is now BRINED TO PERFECTION!
Now Let’s Prepare The Turkey For Roasting
Preheat oven to 325
Step 1.) Place turkey on a wrack over the sink. (I just take out an oven rack & place it over the sink. It’s a lot easier to work over the sink on a rack) Place your brined & washed turkey on the rack & pat dry.
Step 2.) Make Butter Rub #1 by creaming the butter in a bowl. Add in poultry seasoning, cajun seasoning, & olive oil. Mix until combined. Set aside.
Step 3.)Make Dry Rub #2 by adding Poultry seasoning, & cajun spice into a bowl. Set aside
Step 4.) Using half of the butter mixture spread it under the skin and inside the cavity. Do not spread any on the top skin.
Step 5.) Bring a pot of water to boil.
Step 6.) Using a measuring cup, scoop out cup fulls of the boiling hot water and pour it over the skin of the bird. (try not to get it in the cavity.) The skin will instantly contract around the bird. This will help seal in the juices as the turkey cooks.
Step 7.) Next lather on the remaining butter mixture on top of the skin & sprinkle on the Dry Rub.
Step 8.) Stuff the turkeys cavity with a whole apple & orange. Do not cut the apple and orange up unless you need to.
Step 9.) Pour chicken broth into the bottom of a roasting pan,
Step 10.) Place turkey (breast side down ) on the rack in a roasting pan. And cook according to weight. Basting every 30-45 minutes.

Halfway through roasting, turn turkey breast side up.
Step 11.)When turkey has about 3-4 minutes left, make up Butter Rub #3 by combing all ingredients together. Remove turkey from oven and brush on Butter rub #3. Return it to the oven and broil for 3-4 minutes. This will crisp up the skin. Watch it carefully though as it browns very quickly.
Step 12.) Remove from oven and let sit for atleast 15 minutes before carving. This allows the meat to relax and the juices to settle deeper into the meat. Remove & discard the apple and orange.

Enjoy!!!!