Team Traeger’s Slow-Smoked Maple & Bourbon Brined Turkey

With Thanksgiving just around the corner and more holidays and feasting shortly after that, we thought we would kick off a series of recipe ideas with this one from Team Traeger. Enjoy, especially you pellet wielding Grill Masters.

SLOW-SMOKED MAPLE & BOURBON BRINED TURKEY

PREP TIME: 8 to 12 hours to brine
COOK TIME: 4 to 5 hours
RECOMMENDED PELLETS: Pecan, Hickory or Apple
SERVES: 8 to 10, with leftovers too

INGREDIENTS

1 10- to 12-pound turkey, thawed if frozen
5 quarts hot water
1-1/2 cups kosher salt (if using table salt, cut the amount down to 3/4 cup)
3/4 cup bourbon or apple cider
1 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 onion, peeled and quartered through the root end
3 to 4 strips of orange peel
3 bay leaves, broken into pieces
2 tablespoons black peppercorns
1 tablespoon whole cloves
3 quarts ice
1/2 cup butter, melted
Traeger Pork/Poultry Shake, or salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 orange, quartered
Sprigs of fresh sage and thyme or whatever fresh herbs you have on hand
Sprigs of fresh sage, thyme or rosemary for garnish
Orange wedges, lady apples, or kumquats for garnish
Prepared turkey gravy for serving
You’ll also need: Butcher’s twine (sometimes called kitchen twine)

PREPARATION

In a large stockpot or container combine the hot water, kosher salt, bourbon or apple cider, 3/4 cup of the maple syrup, brown sugar, orange peel, onion, bay leaves, peppercorns, and cloves and stir until well mixed. Add the ice. Rinse the turkey, inside and out, under cold running water. Remove giblets and discard or save for another use. (Some turkeys come with a gravy packet as well; remove it before roasting the bird.)

Add the turkey to the brine and refrigerate 8 to 12 hours, or overnight. Weight with a a bag of ice to keep the bird submerged.

Note: Do not use a kosher turkey or a self-basting turkey for this recipe as they have already been enhanced with a salt-solution. It will make for one salty bird if you do.

Drain and pat dry with paper towels; discard the brine. Fold the wingtips behind the back and tie the legs together with butcher’s twine. Stuff the cavity with the quartered orange segments and the fresh herbs. (We used fresh sprigs of sage and thyme.)

Start the Treager on Smoke with the lid open until the fire is established (4 to 5 minutes).

Place the turkey on the grill grate and smoke for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (We don’t recommend smoking it for much longer because you don’t want poultry to hover for very long in that dangerous bacteria-prone temperature.)

Meanwhile combine the melted butter and the remaining 1/4 cup of maple syrup. Brush on the bird and sprinkle very lightly with Pork/Poultry Shake or salt and black pepper.

Slow-Smoked Maple & Bourbon Brined Turkey

Set the temperature to 350 degrees F and roast the turkey for 2 to 2-1/2 hours, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh is 165 degrees F. (Use an instant-read meat thermometer – you’ve just gotta have one.)

Slow-Smoked Maple & Bourbon Brined Turkey

If you don’t want the turkey skin to get as dark, only brush the butter-maple syrup mixture on for the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Let the turkey rest for 15 to 20 minutes before carving. Garnish, if desired, with fresh herbs and/or orange slices or kumquats.

Slow-Smoked Maple & Bourbon Brined Turkey

Head on over to the link below and let Team Traeger know what you think of this recipe.

http://www.traegergrills.com/teamtraeger/post/2013/11/14/Slow-Smoked-Maple-Bourbon-Brined-Turkey.aspx#.UpFfyeLAgqd

Get out and grill.