Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey
Description
Brine a turkey breast for hours in a savory, flavorful combination of spices, black tea, and bourbon. The breast is seasoned with spiced butter and roasted until golden brown and tender.
Ingredients
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Brine:
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2 quarts water
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5 oranges - juiced and zest cut off in large strips
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2 cups kosher salt
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1 cup white sugar
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12 black tea bags
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4 bay leaves
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6 whole cloves
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12 whole black peppercorns
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1 cup bourbon whiskey
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4 quarts cold water, or as needed
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1 (8 pound) whole turkey breast
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Seasoned Butter:
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2 tablespoons coriander seeds, crushed
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1 tablespoon paprika
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2 teaspoons cumin seeds, crushed
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6 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
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6 tablespoons butter, softened
Directions
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
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set oven rack to the lowest position in the oven.
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
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
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.