Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and if you are anything like me you are trying to get all of your Thanksgiving food prepped. Well let me just tell you I have the perfect Hard Cider Brained Turkey recipe.
I’m always looking for something a little different to try with my turkey, and this year was no exception. With hints of apple and lemon this makes for a super tasty and moist turkey. This is my take on the beer can chicken just on a larger scale. Enough with the talking its time that I introduce you to Harold my turkey friend. Don’t worry Harold is 21+ and the alcohol will cook off in the oven anyway. Just don’t tell him he’s the main course 😉
Brining Ingredients:
2 Cups Sugar
1 cup Table Salt or Pickling Salt
6 cups Water
2 Bottles of Gluten Free Hard Cider or Gluten Free Beer
2 Lemons, sliced
3 Bay Leaves
1 Head Garlic, smashed
1 Tablespoon Fresh Ground Pepper
2 Tablespoons Rosemary, chopped or 1 Teaspoon dried Rosemary
Brining Bag(s)
20-25lb Turkey aka Harold (Gluten Free preferably Organic)
In a large stock pot combine the sugar and the water; bring to a boil then remove from the heat. Add the remaining ingredients with the exception of the Turkey. Allow the Hard Cider turkey brine to cool then place in the refrigerator for 1 day.
Place your thawed turkey into a brine bag, or a large pot pour the hard cider brining mixture over the turkey. Seal the brine bag with the zip tie provided and or a rubber band. Allow the turkey (Harold) to sit in the brining mixture for at least 24hrs or up to 2 days. Tomorrow we will share how to cook the Harold the turkey.
Part 2 of Harold’s adventure can be found here Perfectly Roasted Turkey with Bacon and Horseradish
- 2 Cups Sugar
- 1 cup Table Salt or Pickling Salt
- 6 cups Water
- 2 Bottle of Gluten Free Hard Cider or Gluten Free Beer
- 2 Lemons, sliced
- 3 Bay Leaves
- 1 Head Garlic, smashed
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Ground Pepper
- 2 Tablespoons Rosemary, chopped or 1 Teaspoon dried Rosemary
- Brining Bag(s)
- 20-25lb Turkey
- In a large stock pot combine the sugar and the water; bring to a boil then remove from the heat. Add the remaining ingredients with the exception of the Turkey. Allow the hard cider turkey brine to cool then place in the refrigerator for 1 day.
- Place your thawed turkey into a brine bag, or a large pot pour the hard cider brining mixture over the turkey. Seal the brine bag with the zip tie provided and or a rubber band. Allow the turkey to sit in the brining mixture for at least 24hrs or up to 2 days.
I can just imagine how moist and delicious a turkey would be after sitting in this for a day or so.