Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey

Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey

Great-tasting roast turkey flavor. Cook an 8-pound turkey breast on the weekend and enjoy flavorful turkey sandwiches all week. Can also be used on a full-size turkey. Cooking time is about 15 minutes per pound. If desired, make 1 cup seasoned butter and add 2 tablespoons to your turkey gravy.

Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs
Additional Time:
8 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:
10 hrs 45 mins
Yield:
1 whole turkey breast
Servings:
12

Ingredients

  • Brine:
  • 2 quarts water
  • 5 oranges – juiced and zest cut off in large strips
  • 2 cups kosher salt
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 12 black tea bags
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 12 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 cup bourbon whiskey
  • 4 quarts cold water, or as needed
  • 1 (8 pound) whole turkey breast
  • Seasoned Butter:
  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, crushed
  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened

Directions

Step 1
Pour 2 quarts of water into a large soup pot and stir in orange juice and zest, kosher salt, sugar, black tea bags, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, and bourbon. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix 4 quarts cold water into brine and let cool. Submerge turkey breast in brine, adding more water if needed to cover. Refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.

Step 2
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set oven rack to the lowest position in the oven.

Step 3
Remove turkey from marinade; discard marinade. Rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Mix coriander seeds, paprika, cumin seeds, and garlic into softened butter in a bowl.

Step 4
Loosen the skin over turkey breast with your fingers and spread 1/4 cup of seasoned butter beneath the skin. Rub remaining 2 tablespoons seasoned butter over the turkey breast. Place turkey breast onto a roasting rack and set rack into a roasting pan.

Step 5
Roast in the preheated oven until skin is golden brown and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 2 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let turkey breast rest 30 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

508
Calories
15g
Fat
19g
Carbs
59g
Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 508
% Daily Value *
Total Fat15g 19%
Saturated Fat6g 32%
Cholesterol126mg 42%
Sodium16286mg 708%
Total Carbohydrate19g 7%
Dietary Fiber1g 4%
Total Sugars17g
Protein59g
Vitamin C1mg 7%
Calcium60mg 5%
Iron3mg 14%
Potassium734mg 16%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient.If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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source by allrecipe

    • 11 years ago

    This will be my third year using this on a whole turkey. It’s great! Everybody loves it.

    • 10 years ago

    We received so many compliments last year on our turkey that we are doing it again this year. We hosted two Thanksgiving dinners totaling 45 people and used this recipe. Rave reviews. Turkey was moist and had a great flavor that was subtle and delicious. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.

    • 9 years ago

    I used this recipe on a chicken instead of a turkey breast so I just halved everything and let it sit in brine 8 hours. Only change I made was to use fat-free greek yogurt instead of butter for the rub. So juicy and flavorful with a bit of earthiness coming from the tea and bourbon and the orange adding a touch of brightness. Brining is so worth every bit of extra time.

    • 8 years ago

    Very good, the turkey was moist and seasoned just right.

    • 7 years ago

    I also cut this recipe in half and used it for a chicken. It turned out moist and tender, but a little too salty for our taste.

    • 3 years ago

    I used it on a whole spatchcocked chicken. The brining worked well. The taste of the butter was beyond terrible. I toasted the cumin and coriander seeds before grinding them with a mortar and pestle. It was awful.

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