Coffee Brined Turkey

This is a great tasting turkey recipe I like to serve with my Baked Beans in Coffee They complement each other quite nicely. The meat turns out so moist and juicy.

INGREDIENTS

8 cups water

8 cups cold brewed coffee

1/2 cup sea salt

1 cup maple syrup

1 bunch fresh parsley

2 bay leaves

3 oranges, quartered

1 onion, quartered

6 cloves garlic, crushed

4 whole cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1 tablespoon peppercorns

10-12 pound whole turkey

Fresh ground pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Mix together the water, coffee, salt and maple syrup and stir until salt is dissolved.

Line a 2.5 gallon bucket with a clean sturdy plastic bag and pour the liquid mixture into the plastic bag (I use a clear garbage bag).

Toss in all the remaining ingredients except for turkey and ground pepper.

Remove the neck and bag of organs from the inside of turkey and rinse the turkey inside and out; place in the plastic bag.

Bring the bag up close to the turkey, removing as much of the air as you can and seal with a twist tie.

Place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Remove the turkey from the brine and discard brine.

Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry.

Place the turkey in a roasting pan and sprinkle with fresh ground pepper; add water about half an inch up the sides of pan and cover.

Cook in a preheated 350 degree oven for 2 hours, remove cover and continue to cook until meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of turkey reads 165 degrees.

Allow turkey to rest at least 15 minutes before carving.

Enjoy!

The Brine

 *Please keep in mind that not all dried herbs and spices are gluten free so check the labels to make sure the brand you are using is gluten free. The same applies for prepackaged store-bought items, check the labels to be sure. If in doubt, call the toll free number on packaging to be safe and to make your cooking/eating experience is truly gluten free.