Adapted from BetterHomesandGardens.com
Apple cider adds the sweet and masala chai adds the tangy to lift your ordinary turkey to new heights! Brining is an easy way to infuse flavors without losing the essence of your main dish.
Prep 20 mins. Roast 2 hours 45 mins. Cook 5 mins.
Makes 12 to 14 servings.
Ingredients
- 5 1/2 cups apple cider
- 1/4 cup loose-leaf masala chai blend (such as David Rio Maple Moose Chai or Blue Lotus Mandarin Masala Chai)
- 1 cup finely chopped fresh ginger
- 3/4 cup kosher salt
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 2×1-inch strips orange peel
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- 4 whole cloves
- 12 cups ice water
- 1 8-10 pound fresh or frozen turkey, thawed if frozen
- Recipe Cider Sauce
Method
- For brine, in a large stockpot combine apple cider, masala chai, ginger, salt, brown sugar, bay leaves, orange peel, peppercorns and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer for 5 minutes; cool slightly. Stir in ice water. (If all of the ice water doesn’t fit in the pot, add the remainder to turkey in the brining
- Remove neck and giblets from turkey; discard. Rinse turkey; pat dry with paper towels. Place turkey in a large brining or roasting bag set in a large bowl or plastic tub. Add enough brine to cover turkey; seal bag. Chill for 24 to 36 hours.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Tuck drumstick ends under band of skin across tail, if available. If there is no band of skin, tie drumsticks securely to the tail using 100-percent cotton kitchen string. Twist wing tips under back.
- Place turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the center of an inside thigh muscle. The thermometer should not touch bone. Cover turkey loosely
- Roast for 2-1/4 hours. Remove foil; cut band of skin or string between drumsticks so thighs will cook evenly. Roast for 30 to 45 minutes more or until the thermometer registers 175 degrees F. (The juices should run clear and drumsticks should move easily in their sockets.) Remove from oven.
- Cover turkey with foil; let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before carving.
