Portuguese Turkey Brine Recipes

Steps:

• In a large stock pot, combine the vegetable broth, sea salt, rosemary, sage, thyme, and savory. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently to be sure salt is dissolved. Remove from heat, and let cool to room temperature.
• When the broth mixture is cool, pour it into a clean 5 gallon bucket. Stir in the ice water.
• Wash and dry your turkey. Make sure you have removed the innards. Place the turkey, breast down, into the brine. Make sure that the cavity gets filled. Place the bucket in the refrigerator overnight.
• Remove the turkey carefully draining off the excess brine and pat dry. Discard excess brine.
• Cook the turkey as desired reserving the drippings for gravy. Keep in mind that brined turkeys cook 20 to 30 minutes faster so watch the temperature gauge.

Steps:

• Combine the first 8 ingredients of the marindate then place the thawed turkey in the marinade. Rub the turkey with the marinade, then put some of it inside the turkey. Marinade for 24 hours in the roasting pan in the fridge, turning it over every couple of hours.
• Remove the turkey from the fridge 2 hours prior to cooking. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Stuff the turkey with the stuffing. If there is too much, place the balance of the stuffing in a pouch made of a double layer of foil, seal then place in the roasting plan.
• Pour the lemon juice over the turkey, sprinkle with paprika, dot with butter and a drizzle of oil. To the marinade, add the onion and ketchup.
• Roast approximately 1/2 hour uncovered, then reduce to 325F and cook for 1 hour uncovered. Baste then cover with lid. After 3 hours in the oven, add the potatoes and carrots to the pan, basting with the sauce . Cover the turkey and continue basting throughout the roasting process. (15 min cooking time per lb of turkey to165 F). Allow turkey to rest 20 minutes prior to carving.
• Stuffing: Combine all off the ingredients together then add the boiling water to attain a thick consistency. Once cool enough to handle, mix well using your hands. Add more bread crumbs if too soft and water if too hard then taste and adjust for seasoning. *Stuffing can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

Steps:

• Soak turkeys in salted water under refrigeration for 24 hours.
• Combine wine, garlic, paprika, bay leaves, salt, hot pepper sauce and oregano. Marinate turkeys in this mixture for 24 hours under refrigeration. Turn occasionally.
• When ready to cook, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Remove turkeys from marinade, reserving marinade. Pack turkeys loosely with stuffing and cover openings of cavities with bread crusts; sew cavities closed. Bake remaining stuffing separately during the last half-hour turkeys are roasting.
• Wrap turkey wings in foil. Put turkeys into roasting pans and top with pieces of bacon, putting some beneath turkeys as well. Pour reserved marinade over turkeys.
• Roast turkeys for 30 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and roast turkeys about 2 1/2 hours more. If turkeys get too brown before they are cooked, put aluminum foil over the top. If turkeys are roasted in a single oven, they may need 30 minutes or more of extra roasting time.

Steps:

• Combine water in a large pot with salt and sugar, over high heat until dissolved.
• Add Worcestershire, peppercorns & garlic, making sure Worcestershire is well combined.
• Cool back to room temperature.
• Wash the turkey inside and out with cold water.
• You will need 2 gallon turkey size oven roasting bags.
• Place one roasting bag inside the other, roll down the edges of the bags to help them stay open.
• Put bags in a heavy roasting pan that will hold turkey.
• Place turkey breast side down, with legs facing you in the inner bag.
• Pour the cooled brine into the cavity and over the turkey.
• Gather the inner bag as tightly as possible and secure with a twist tie.
• Secure outer bag with twist tie.
• Refrigerate in the roasting pan for 12-18 hours.
• Remove from bags, rinse very well, pat dry with paper towels.
• It's now ready for your favorite recipe.

Steps:

• Combine 1-2 gallons water, salt, sugar, peppercorns, thyme, rosemary, sage and bay leaves in large pot over medium heat.
• Stir to dissolve salt and sugar and bring to a boil. Take the brine off the stove and cool down to room temperature.
• Mix brine and ice water in a large stockpot or brining bag.
• Place rinsed and thawed turkey breast side down in brine and cover or tie up brining bag.
• Place inside of cooler and fill cooler with ice (can also be refrigerated) for 8-24 hours, turning the turkey once half way through.
• Be sure to drain and rinse well once removed from the brining liquid.
• Roast or smoke as you normally would.

Steps:

• Combine water in a large pot with salt and sugar, over high heat until dissolved.
• Add Worcestershire, peppercorns & garlic, making sure Worcestershire is well combined.
• Cool back to room temperature.
• Wash the turkey inside and out with cold water.
• You will need 2 gallon turkey size oven roasting bags.
• Place one roasting bag inside the other, roll down the edges of the bags to help them stay open.
• Put bags in a heavy roasting pan that will hold turkey.
• Place turkey breast side down, with legs facing you in the inner bag.
• Pour the cooled brine into the cavity and over the turkey.
• Gather the inner bag as tightly as possible and secure with a twist tie.
• Secure outer bag with twist tie.
• Refrigerate in the roasting pan for 12-18 hours.
• Remove from bags, rinse very well, pat dry with paper towels.
• It's now ready for your favorite recipe.