Gluten Free Turkey Apple Cider Brine

Now that’s a dry turkey!

Turkey is a staple food for many holiday meals for years upon years.  I used to HATE turkey.  Hate is too harsh a word.  Let’s say I really did not enjoy the dryness that turkey seemed to always have while eating.  It was a meat that I had to load under tons of gravy & canned cranberry jelly and then it might be pretty good!  I remember years of watching my grandma taking out the turkey and basting every so often and the amazing aroma that came from her kitchen during Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Now turkey has been one of those things that I felt I could get right if I tried hard enough.  I like the smoked turkeys I tried, but didn’t love them. I liked the fried, but again, didn’t love them.  SO I thought heck why not brine it and see.

So a few warnings.  Please check your turkey to make sure it is gluten free.  Second over the years I have toyed with frozen, organic, free range etc.  I have used coupons and got it for free, and most recently paid with my youngest child (as it cost a ton), for an organic free range bird.  Let me just say, in my opinion turkey, chicken or any poultry tastes best when it is fresh and not frozen.  Now having said that, this expensive bird I got was HORRIBLE.  My husband joked that since it was free range it must have been working out way too much.  It was the toughest old bird I have ever had.  I think I will stick to any fresh young turkey that is gluten free I can find.

Below is a recipe that I found years and years ago, that I altered (as that is what I do).  This will make your bird flavorful, moist and just plain melt in your mouth!

Melt In Your Mouth Gluten Free Apple Cider Turkey Brine

2 quarts Apple Cider (gluten free)

1 Brining Bag by Reynolds or the Large Reynolds Oven Bags will work, but I always double them up.  The brining bags-new this year are much thicker and I trust them more with this much fluid!

1 lb light brown sugar (gluten free)

1 cup Kosher salt

3 quarts water

4-5 large oranges quartered

4-6 hug slices of fresh ginger, sliced thin

15-18 whole cloves

8 bay leaves

10 garlic cloves crushed

Large Organic Fresh Young Turkey-This recipe works well for a turkey up to 14 lbs.  Anything larger and you may have to make another 1/2 to full batch.

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Place the large brining bag in a huge stock pot that is large enough to hold your bird, or in a pinch I have used a big bucket (clean of course).

2.  Rinse off your turkey and remove anything inside the turkey (giblets and neck etc.).

3.  Place the turkey in the brining bag.

4.  Use another large stock pot (or use the pot first then place the turkey in when you are done), and bring the apple cider, sugar, and salt to a boil over high heat.

5.  Skim the foam off the top with a spoon and let it cool slightly.

6.  Add the 3 quarts of cold water to the mixture.

7.  Add the oranges, ginger, cloves, bay leaves and garlic to the brine.

8.  Gently pour the cold brine (or at least room temperature) over the turkey and tie off the bag.  Make sure the entire turkey is covered in brine.  It is best to have the turkey in the bucket or large pot before you add the liquid and the closer the pot is around the turkey the better the chance that your whole turkey will be in the fluid the entire time.

9.  Set the bucket in the fridge for 3-5 days!

10.  When you are ready to cook your turkey remove the turkey from the brine.

11.  Let the turkey come close to room temperature.

12.  Place the turkey in a Reynolds Large Roasting Bag breast side down.  (Use the bags as directed on the package-add the flour (I use Tom Sawyer’s gluten free flour)).  Place 2-3 slits into the roasting bag.  Cook as directed based on the size of your turkey in a large roasting pan with a lid.

13.  When your turkey is done please remove it from the oven, and let it sit in the roaster bag for 15-30 minutes without touching it or carving into it.

14.  Enjoy your melt-in-your mouth turkey!

 

**I will be starting my brine today for my Christmas dinner! I will post a picture after it comes out of the oven to update this blog!

Feel free to share your thoughts on being gluten free or having Celiacs, as well as any recipes you have been looking for and I will do my best to work on them!

I would love to hear how your turkey turned out!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS and happy eating!

-Nahry