Meridian Cook Book Holiday Edition | Page 32

Entrees
Camille McKenna
Entrees

Holiday Roast Turkey

Camille McKenna
Yield : 8 Servings
Ingredients for Brine :
• 16-pound whole turkey , thawed
• 5 pounds ice
• Cold water , as needed
• 1 1 ⁄ 2 cups kosher salt
• 4 bay leaves
Directions for Brine :
1 . Remove innards from turkey . 2 . Place thawed turkey in large pot big enough to hold the turkey . 3 . Pour salt over and around the turkey .
Add bay leaves and ice .
Ingredients for Roasted Turkey :
• 16-pound whole turkey , brined
• 3 tablespoons rosemary , dried
• 2 tablespoons thyme , dried
• 1 tablespoon oregano , dried
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 1 ⁄ 2 pound unsalted butter , softened
4 . Submerge the turkey in cold water . Let the turkey brine 12 hours or overnight in the refrigerator .
• 4 lemons , halved
• 4 onions , peeled and halved
• 2 tablespoon garlic , minced
• Salt , to taste
• Black pepper , to taste
• 4 ounces water
Directions for Roasted Turkey :
1 .
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit .
2 .
Remove turkey from brine and let it drain of remaining water . Set aside .
3 .
Combine softened butter , dried herbs and garlic in mixing bowl . Do not add the bay
leaves yet . Add salt and pepper to butter as needed .
4 .
Rub 3 ⁄ 4 of butter mixture under the skin of the turkey and place in a roasting pan .
5 .
Stuff half of the onions and half of the lemons inside the cavity of the turkey with two of
the bay leaves .
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Recipe continues on next page .