Buttermilk Marinated Wild Turkey With Peppery Milk Gravy Food

BUTTERMILK-BRINED TURKEY

Steps:

• Buttermilk Brine: Pour water into a medium saucepan over high heat. Add salt and stir to dissolve; once all the salt has dissolved, remove from heat and add ice cubes to cool quickly.
• In a large stock pot, add basil, coriander seed, mustard seed, black peppercorns, bay leaves, and garlic powder. Add buttermilk, salt water, and stir.
• Rinse turkey inside and out with cold water. Line a stock pot large enough to hold the turkey with a brining bag. Place the turkey into the bag, then carefully pour in the buttermilk brine. (Optional: Use a pitcher to help transfer the brine.) Press out all the air, then seal the bag. Transfer the bagged turkey to a sheet tray and refrigerate for 24-36 hours, turning every 4 to 6 hours for even brining.
• Remove the turkey from the brining bag; discard the brine. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat completely dry with paper towels, inside and out. Place the turkey breast side up on a rack in a large roasting pan. Twist and tuck the wing tips underneath the turkey. Cross the legs, then tie together with kitchen twine. Rub the skin evenly with butter. Let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Meanwhile, position oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 F.
• Season the turkey all over with pepper. Roast the turkey for 30 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 325 F and continue roasting, about 15 minutes per pound. After 1 hour of total cooking time, remove turkey from the oven, opening and closing the door as quickly as possible to maintain the temperature. Baste turkey with the juices that have accumulated in the pan. (Tip: For easier basting, tilt the pan to allow juices to collect on one side.) Check temperature by inserting a thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and thigh, away from the bone. The turkey is done when a digital thermometer registers 165 F at the thickest part of the breast and 175 F at the thigh. (At this point, the turkey won't be done, but you will have a better idea of how much cooking time is left.) Continue roasting, basting and checking the temperature every 30 minutes. Total roasting time should be 2½-3½ hours.
• When turkey has reached temperature, immediately transfer to a carving board, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for 30 minutes before carving. (See the "How to Carve a Turkey" lesson for carving instructions.)

BUTTERMILK-BRINED SPICE-RUBBED TURKEY

Steps:

• Brine the turkey: Bring 2 cups water, the salt, brown sugar, 1 halved garlic head and 10 thyme sprigs to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar. Remove from the heat and add 6 cups cold water; let cool to room temperature. Whisk the buttermilk, hot sauce, mustard and sliced onion in a large bowl, then whisk in the salt-sugar mixture. Place the turkey in a brining bag or extra-large pot. Pour the brine over the turkey, seal or cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Position a rack in the lowest part of the oven; remove the other racks and preheat to 350˚. Set a rack in a large roasting pan. Remove the turkey from the brine, letting the excess drip off as much as possible, and transfer, breast-side up, to the rack. Pat the turkey dry. Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Combine the paprika, onion powder, granulated garlic, cayenne and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl. Stuff the turkey cavity with the remaining 1 halved garlic head and 10 thyme sprigs and the quartered onion; tie the legs together with kitchen twine. Tuck the wings under the body. Season the turkey all over with salt and brush with the melted butter. Coat the turkey with the spice mixture.
• Roast the turkey 1 1/2 hours, then baste with the pan drippings. (Add 1/4 cup water to the roasting pan if it's too dry.) Continue to roast, basting every 30 minutes, until the skin is crisp and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165˚, 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest 30 minutes before carving.

BUTTERMILK-BRINED TURKEY

Steps:

• Combine water, salt, parsley, coriander, peppercorns, mustard seeds, garlic powder, and bay leaves in a large stockpot and bring to a boil. Boil until salt has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Stir in buttermilk.
• Rinse turkey in cold water. Place in a brining bag and pour buttermilk brine over the top. Refrigerate for 24 hours, turning occasionally.
• Discard the brine and rinse turkey thoroughly in cold water. Pat turkey dry with paper towels and place breast side-up in a roasting pan. Rub butter over all of the skin and let turkey sit for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cook turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 3 hours.

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• Use kitchen shears to cut off any excess skin from the chicken thighs. Finely chop the skin and refrigerate. Use a sharp paring knife to cut around the bone in each of the thighs and remove.
• Whisk together the buttermilk, a pinch salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the boneless chicken thighs and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Once the chicken has marinated, make the gravy. Combine the chicken broth, whole milk and thyme in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat and cover with a lid.
• Meanwhile, put the olive oil and chicken skin in a large high-sided skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook until the fat from the skin has rendered and the is skin is browned in spots, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the onions, 1 teaspoon salt and a couple grinds of pepper and cook until tender, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Whisk in the milk mixture and bring the liquid up to a strong simmer, increasing the heat if needed. Cook until thickened to the consistency of gravy, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Remove and discard the thyme. Cover with a lid to keep warm while you fry the chicken.
• Fill a large Dutch oven a little less than halfway with vegetable oil and heat to 350 degrees F. Fit a baking sheet with a wire cooling rack.
• Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, the cornstarch and Cajun seasoning in a medium bowl. One by one, remove the chicken thighs from the buttermilk marinade, allowing any excess to drip away, then dredge in the seasoned flour until completely coated.
• When the oil is hot, fry the chicken in batches of 2 to 3 pieces until golden brown and the internal temperature is 165 degrees, 5 to 7 minutes total, carefully turning the chicken once halfway through the cooking time. Transfer the fried chicken to the cooling rack. Allow the oil to return to 350 degrees F in between each batch.
• Serve immediately with the gravy. If the gravy thickens too much as it sits, whisk in additional chicken broth to thin the gravy out to your liking.

BUTTERMILK GRAVY

Steps:

• Heat bacon drippings in a skillet over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until well combined and bubbly, about 1 minute. Pour in buttermilk gradually and bring to a boil, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in chicken bouillon, salt, and pepper. If gravy is too thick, whisk in more buttermilk until you reach your desired consistency. Serve immediately.

BUTTERMILK-MARINATED WILD TURKEY WITH PEPPERY MILK GRAVY

Steps:

• To make the turkey, wash and dry it and sprinkle with salt and pepper inside and out. Place in a large, deep roasting pan, pour the buttermilk over the top and marinate overnight in the refrigerator, turning several times.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the turkey from the marinade. Drain and discard the marinade. Put the turkey in a shallow roasting pan.
• In a small bowl, combine the onion, celery, paprika, bread and 1/2 cup of sherry. Stuff the turkey with this mixture. Dip a clean cloth into the melted butter and rub the entire exterior of the turkey with it.
• Place the turkey in the oven and roast, basting with pan drippings and the remaining 1/2 cup of sherry every 15 to 20 minutes, until the juices run clear when the thigh is deeply pierced; it should cook about 20 minutes per pound. Remove the turkey and discard the stuffing. (It is not meant to be eaten.) Let the turkey sit.
• To make the gravy, pour out all but about a 1/4 cup of the drippings from the turkey pan. Over a burner set on low, add the flour to the pan and stir, making a smooth paste. Pour in 1/4 cup of milk and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to bubble.
• Remove from the heat and very gradually stir in the remaining milk. Return to the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Season with salt and pepper. Carve the turkey and serve immediately with the gravy.

BUTTERMILK-BRINED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients together in a large re-sealable plastic bag. Place in a bowl, to catch any leaks, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Remove the turkey breast from the brine, drain well and pat dry with paper towels.
• Place the turkey breast, skin-side up, on a baking sheet fitted with a wire rack. Place in the oven and cook for 1 hour 15 minutes. Turn the oven up to 400 degrees F and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees F and the skin is nicely browned. Remove from the oven, cover with aluminum foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the grill to medium heat and oil the grates generously with vegetable oil.
• Once the turkey has rested, cut the meat off the bone and carve into 3/8-inch thick slices. Place the slices on the grill and cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side, just until grill marks develop.
• Remove from the grill. Use in a Po' Boy or as main course.

CHICKEN FRIED WILD TURKEY WITH GRAVY

Steps:

• Marinate turkey in dressing, hot sauce and lemon pepper for 8 hours or overnight (I've done 4 hrs and it turns out fine).
• Combine eggs and milk in a shallow dish.
• Combine flour, salt, & pepper in another shallow dish.
• Coat each piece of marinated turkey 1st in flour, then in milk mixture, then again in flour.
• Deep fry until golden brown.
• To make gravy, combine 2 T margarine or butter with 2 T flour over medium heat. Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk and salt & pepper to taste. Whisk over medium heat until it thickens.

BUTTERMILK-BRINED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• One to two days before you plan to cook, place buttermilk and salt in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag and stir to dissolve salt. Place turkey breast in the bag and seal carefully, expelling the air. Squish the bag to distribute buttermilk all around the turkey, place on a rimmed plate, and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. If you're so inclined, you can turn the bag periodically so every part of the turkey gets marinated, but that's not essential.
• Two hours before you plan to start cooking, remove the turkey from the plastic bag and scrape off as much buttermilk as you can without being obsessive. Discard buttermilk, set the breast on a rimmed plate and bring it to room temperature.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat to 425 degrees. Place breast skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a wire rack or parchment paper.
• Place baking sheet on the prepared oven rack and roast the turkey until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deepest part of the breast without touching bone registers 150 degrees, about 40 minutes for a boneless breast or 50 minutes for a bone-in breast. (You may want to tent the breast with aluminum foil if it's darkening too quickly.)
• Transfer turkey to a cutting board or platter and allow to rest at least 15 minutes before carving.

BUTTERMILK-BRINED ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Two to three days before you plan to cook, spatchcock the turkey: Put the turkey on a stable cutting board, breast-side down, and use heavy-duty kitchen shears to snip along both sides of the backbone to release it. You can start from the tail or neck end, whichever you prefer; just keep the blades of the scissors as close to the spine as possible. It helps to work incrementally, snipping a little on one side, then a little on the other, rather than completing one side entirely and then doing the second side without the advantage of the opposing pressure.
• After removing the backbone, remove wingtips, neck and giblets, setting them all aside for stock and gravy.
• Turn turkey over so breast faces up. Splay out its legs and press hard on breastbone until you hear the cartilage pop and the bird lies completely flat.
• Place a 2-gallon resealable bag in a large bowl, stock pot or sink. Pour buttermilk and salt in bag and stir to dissolve salt. Place turkey in bag and seal carefully, expelling out air. Double-bag the turkey as needed to prevent leakage, then squish the inner bag to distribute buttermilk all around the turkey. Place it on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate for 48 hours. Turn the bag every 12 hours so that every part of the turkey gets marinated.
• Three hours before you plan to start cooking, remove the turkey from the plastic bag and scrape off as much buttermilk as you can without being obsessive, discarding buttermilk. Set the turkey on a rimmed baking sheet and bring it to room temperature.
• Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat to 400 degrees. Transfer turkey, breast-side up, to another rimmed baking sheet lined with a wire rack or parchment paper. Tuck thighs inward.
• Place baking sheet on the prepared oven rack and roast the turkey, occasionally rotating the pan 180 degrees, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deepest part of the breast registers 150 degrees and the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 165 degrees, about 80 to 100 minutes, depending on size. (You may want to tent the breast or other hot spots with aluminum foil, if darkening too quickly.)
• Transfer turkey to a cutting board or platter and allow to rest at least 20 minutes before carving.

BUTTERMILK MARINADE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, buttermilk, fresh dill, and garlic. Serve with meat of your choice.