Brine & BBQ Your Holiday Turkey

My son and I attended a cooking demonstration last week, and the chef showed us how to brine a turkey. I’ve brined plenty of salmon, but never a turkey. We just purchased “the bird” (as my spouse refers to the turkey) and we’re going to try the brine method.

I found a recipe for Brined and Barbequed Turkey with Pan Gravy at the Weber Grills website. The recipe is from Weber’s Charcoal Grilling™ cookbook by Jamie Purviance.

Be sure to stop by any of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms (Silverdale, Tacoma, Southcenter, Bellevue, or Lynnwood) early this week to pick up whatever you need in the way of Weber cookbooks, grills, and accessories. 

Before we get to the recipe, you’ll want to read this helpful illustrated excerpt from Weber’s Charcoal Grilling™ cookbook, courtesy of Weber:
How to barbecue a turkey

How to brine a turkey

Marinating Time: 18 to 24 hours

Brine

2 quarts apple juice
1 cup kosher salt
2 tablespoons dried rosemary
2 tablespoons dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried sage
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

And don’t forget the main ingredient:

1 turkey, 10 to 12 pounds, fresh or defrosted

In a large pot combine the brine ingredients. Stir vigorously until the salt is dissolved. 
 
Remove the neck and giblets from the turkey and reserve in the refrigerator for the gravy. Cut off and reserve the wing tips for the gravy, too. If your turkey has a trussing clamp, leave it in place. Do not truss the turkey. Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water.
 
Partially fill a cooler with ice. Open a large, sturdy plastic bag in the cooler. Place the turkey, breast side down, in the bag. Carefully pour the brine over the turkey and then add 3 quarts of cold water. The turkey should be almost completely submerged. If some the back is exposed above the brine, that’s okay. Press the air out of the bag, seal the bag tightly, close the lid of the cooler, and set aside for 18 to 24 hours.

Aside: The chef at our cooking demonstration told us you can brine a turkey in a large bucket (large enough to submerge the turkey). If the weather’s cold, you can cover the bucket and stick it in your garage, or on your back porch (just make sure the neighborhood wildlife doesn’t catch wind of your delicacy!).  To be on the safe side, though, brining it inside a cooler is probably the best idea.

Barbecuing the Bird

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Grilling Time: 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours
 
 Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, divided
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
2 large carrots, roughly chopped
2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
4 small chunks apple wood or 4 small handfuls apple wood chips, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes
 
Fill a chimney starter to the rim with charcoal and burn the coals until they are lightly covered with ash. Spread the coals in a half circle or crescent-shaped fire on one side of the charcoal grate. Carefully place a large, disposable drip pan in the center of the charcoal grate and fill it about halfway with warm water. This will help to maintain the temperature of the fire. Put the cooking grate in place, close the lid, and let the coals burn down to low heat (250° to 350°F). Keep all the vents open. 
 
Remove the turkey from the bag and rinse it, inside and out, with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Discard the brine. Lightly coat the turkey with some of the melted butter. Season with the pepper.
 
Place one foil pan inside the other and pour the chicken stock into the top pan. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Add the reserved turkey neck, giblets, and wing tips. Place the turkey, breast side down, in the foil pan.
 
Place the pan in the center of the cooking grate. Position the pan so the turkey legs face the charcoal. Drain, and then add 2 wood chunks or 2 handfuls of chips to the charcoal. Cook the turkey over indirect low heat, with the lid closed, for 1 hour.
 
After 1 hour, to maintain the heat, add 10 to 12 unlit charcoal briquettes to the lit charcoal, using long-handled tongs to tuck the unlit charcoal between the lit charcoal. Drain and add the remaining 2 wood chunks or 2 handfuls of chips to the charcoal. Carefully turn the turkey over in the pan so the breast faces up. Continue to cook the turkey over indirect low heat, with the lid closed, for a second hour.
 
At the end of the second hour, baste the turkey all over with the remaining butter. If any parts are getting too dark, wrap them tightly with aluminum foil. Once again, add 10 to 12 unlit charcoal briquettes to the lit charcoal to maintain the heat. Continue to cook the turkey over indirect low heat. The total cooking time will be 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours. The turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 170°F in the thickest part of the thigh (not touching the bone).
 
Transfer the turkey to a cutting board, loosely cover with foil, and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes before carving (the internal temperature will rise 5° to 10°F during this time). Save the pan juices and vegetables to make the gravy.

Gravy

Reserved pan liquid plus enough chicken stock to make 4 cups of liquid
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 4 equal pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
Kosher salt
Ground black pepper

Strain the pan liquid through a sieve into a large fat separator and discard all the solids. Add enough chicken stock to equal 4 cups of liquid.

In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, add the butter and flour. As the butter melts, stir with a wooden spoon and cook until the mixture turns the color of peanut butter, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add 4 cups of the reserved pan liquid (but not the fat) plus the wine. Bring the gravy to a boil, whisking frequently to dissolve the lumps.

Lower the heat and simmer the gravy for a few minutes or until it reaches the consistency you like. If the gravy gets too thick, add more chicken stock a little at a time and simmer until it reaches the right thickness.

Turn off the heat. Add the parsley and season with salt and pepper.

Carve the turkey. Serve warm with the gravy.

Serves: 10 to 12

Try this holiday recipe, too:

• Beer-Butt Chicken for the Big Green Egg

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