White Wine Turkey Brine Food

WHITE WINE TURKEY BRINE, SIMPLE

Steps:

• Add bay leaves, garlic, onion, salt, sugar and water to a large stock pot.
• Cut lemons in half and squeeze the juice into the rest of the brine ingredients; add the squeezed lemons.
• Bring to a boil and boil 10 minutes.
• Remove from heat and cool too room temp; stir in wine.
• Add turkey; brine for 12 to 24 hours.
• Remove the turkey and rinse very well in cold water.
• Butter or oil the skin and roast as usual.

TURKEY BRINE WITH WINE - MARTHA STEWART

Steps:

• Tools and Materials:.
• 5-gallon brining container (tub, stockpot, or bucket).
• Large brining or oven-roasting bag.
• Refrigerator (or a cooler with ice).
• One day before roasting turkey, bring 1 quart water, the salt, bay leaves, and spices to a simmer, stirring until salt has dissolved. Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Step 2: Submerge the Turkey. I used a brining bag.
• To minimize cleanup, line a 5-gallon container with a large brining or oven-roasting bag. Place turkey in bag. Add salt mixture, remaining 6 quarts (24 cups) water, and the other ingredients. Tie bag; if turkey is not submerged, weight it with a plate. Refrigerate for 24 hours, flipping turkey once.
• If there isn't room in your refrigerator, place the bagged bird inside a cooler, and surround it with ice, replenishing as necessary to keep it at 40 degrees.
• Step 3: Remove and Roast.
• Remove turkey from brine one hour before you're ready to roast it, and pat it dry inside and out. Let stand for up to 1 hour before roasting it to your preferred recipe's specifications.

ALL PURPOSE WHITE WINE BRINE - WHITE COOKING WINE

Steps:

• In a 2-quart saucepot, combine all the ingredients except ice and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Transfer the brine to a container and add ice. Let the ice completely melt before adding your meat to the brine.

LEMON-GARLIC ROAST TURKEY AND WHITE-WINE GRAVY

Steps:

• Crush 6 cloves garlic and add to a very large stockpot (or clean bucket). Stir in lemon juice, Worcestershire, salt and 4 quarts cold water.
• Remove giblets from turkey (if included) and trim excess skin. Submerge the turkey in the brine and refrigerate for 24 hours. If the turkey is not fully submerged, turn it every 8 hours.
• Remove the turkey from the brine, rinse well and pat dry. Discard the brine.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the remaining 4 cloves garlic, lemon zest, oregano, oil, pepper and 2 tablespoons water in a food processor and pulse until it becomes a paste. (Alternatively, chop garlic, lemon zest and oregano on a cutting board until finely minced, then place in a small bowl and stir in oil, pepper and water.) Loosen the skin over the breast and thigh meat. Rub the paste all over the turkey, under the skin onto the breast meat and leg meat and a little inside the cavity. Tuck the wing tips under the turkey. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Place the turkey breast-side down in a roasting rack set in a large roasting pan.
• Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Turn it breast-side up on the rack, add 1 cup water to the pan, and continue roasting 1 hour more. Baste the turkey with pan drippings, tent with foil and continue roasting, basting every 15 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 165degreesF, 30 to 45 minutes more.
• Transfer the turkey to a large cutting board; let rest for 20 minutes before removing the string and carving.
• Meanwhile, pour any pan juices and fat into a large glass measuring cup and place in the freezer until the fat rises to the top, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, pour the pan juices and fat into a fat separator then pour the defatted juices into a large measuring cup.) Whisk flour with 1/4 cup water in a small bowl.
• Set the roasting pan over two burners on medium heat. Add wine (or vermouth); bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Continue cooking until reduced, about 3 minutes.
• Remove the pan juices from the freezer, skim off the fat with a spoon and discard. Add the defatted juices and broth to the roasting pan; return to a simmer, whisking often. Cook for 1 minute, then whisk in the flour mixture and simmer until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the gravy through a fine-mesh sieve and serve with the turkey.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 180 calories; 6 g fat (2 g sat, 2 g mono); 66 mg cholesterol; 2 g carbohydrate; 26 g protein; 0 g fiber; 120 mg sodium; 273 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Zinc (19% daily value). 0 Carbohydrate Servings Exchanges: 4 lean meat
• TIP: Shopping tip: Look for turkey labeled "natural" or "organic" in natural-foods stores or well-stocked supermarkets. Turkeys labeled "heritage" are also typically "natural." If you can't find one, don't overlook this recipe. It works with conventional turkey, too; just skip the brining (Steps 1-2) and start with Step 3.
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris