Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey

Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey

Total Time
2h 32m
31m prep · 121m cook
Servings
4 people
Rating
Difficulty
Hard
25 views

Great-tasting roast turkey flavor. Cook an 8-pound turkey breast on the weekend and enjoy flavorful turkey sandwiches all week. Can also be used on a full-size turkey. Cooking time is about 15 minutes per pound. If desired, make 1 cup seasoned butter and add 2 tablespoons to your turkey gravy.

Ingredients

  • Brine:
  • 2 quartss water
  • 5 orangess - juiced and zest cut off in large strips
  • 2 cups kosher salt
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 12 blacks tea bags
  • 4 bays leaves
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 12 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 cup bourbon whiskey
  • 4 quartss cold water , or as needed
  • 1 whole turkey breast , 8 pound
  • Seasoned Butter:
  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds , crushed
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds , crushed
  • 6 cloves garlic , crushed and chopped
  • 6 tablespoons butter , softened

Instructions

  1. 1

    Pour 2 quarts of water into a large soup pot and stir in orange juice and zest, kosher salt, sugar, black tea bags, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, and bourbon. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix 4 quarts cold water into brine and let cool. Submerge turkey breast in brine, adding more water if needed to cover. Refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.

  2. 2

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set oven rack to the lowest position in the oven.

  3. 3

    Remove turkey from marinade; discard marinade. Rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Mix coriander seeds, paprika, cumin seeds, and garlic into softened butter in a bowl.

  4. 4

    Loosen the skin over turkey breast with your fingers and spread 1/4 cup of seasoned butter beneath the skin. Rub remaining 2 tablespoons seasoned butter over the turkey breast. Place turkey breast onto a roasting rack and set rack into a roasting pan.

  5. 5

    Roast in the preheated oven until skin is golden brown and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 2 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let turkey breast rest 30 minutes before slicing.

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Nutrition Facts

Per serving

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