A simple and delicious supper can be made with chicken, fresh veggies, and tarragon in a cream sauce and served with biscuits or pastry shells.
| Prep Time: | 25 mins |
| Cook Time: | 16 mins |
| Total Time: | 41 mins |
| Servings: | 31 |
| Yield: | 31 cups |
Ingredients
- 5 cups water, divided
- 1 cup salt
- 1 gallon water
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 quarts apple juice (not from concentrate)
- 1 pint whiskey (such as Jack Daniel’s®)
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 large Gala apple, quartered and chopped
- 1 navel orange, quartered, or more to taste
Instructions
- Combine 2 1/2 cups water and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until salt is dissolved, about 3 minutes.
- Pour water and salt mixture into a 5-gallon bucket. Add 1 gallon of water.
- Combine 2 1/2 cups water and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Pour into the bucket.
- Stir apple juice, whiskey, and lemon juice into the bucket. Add chopped apple. Squeeze in orange juice and add in rinds.
- Substitute 1/4 cup lemon extract for the lemon juice if desired.
- To Brine: Crush 1 to 2 jumbo-sized cloves of garlic and rub over a 12 to 18-pound turkey. You can also mince fresh herbs and mix in with the garlic. Stuff turkey with 1 quartered and chopped apple. Brine for 12 to 16 hours, depending on the size of the turkey. You could add a bottle of dry white wine to the brine about 6 hours in. Pat turkey dry with paper towels before roasting.
- Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of brine ingredients. The actual amount of brine consumed will vary.
Reviews
The turkey was very moist and had a great flavor. Will definitely be used again!!!!!!!
This was the best smoked turkey I have ever made. The brine made it super juicy, tender, and full of flavor. I scaled down the recipe because I was just doing a whole turkey breast and it still came out perfect. I injected some seasoned salt but that is the only change I made. Perfect and 5 stars all the way!
It was very delicious, and flavorful! The turkey was very juicy and moist. This is a keeper.
It was very delicious, and flavorful! The turkey was very juicy and moist. This is a keeper.