How to Make Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey - A Step-by-Step Guide

Thanksgiving is a time for tradition, family, and of course, delicious food. And what better way to celebrate this festive holiday than with a mouthwatering turkey recipe that will leave everyone at the table in culinary awe? Enter the Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey.

This extraordinary recipe combines the rich flavors of orange, the warmth of bourbon, and the earthy notes of tea to create a brine that infuses the turkey with an unforgettable depth of flavor. The add...

Read more

Ingredients

  • Brine:
  • 2 quarts water
  • 5 oranges - juiced and zest cut off in large strips
  • 2 cups kosher salt
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 12 black tea bags
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 12 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 cup bourbon whiskey
  • 4 quarts cold water, or as needed
  • 1 (8 pound) whole turkey breast
  • 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

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 2 hrs
  • Additional Time: 8 hrs 30 mins
  • Total Time: 10 hrs 45 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 1 whole turkey breast

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

    508 cal.

    • Total Fat: 15g
    • Saturated Fat: 6g
    • Cholesterol: 126mg
    • Sodium: 16286mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 19g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 17g
    • Protein: 59g
    • Vitamin C: 1mg
    • Calcium: 60mg
    • Iron: 3mg
    • Potassium: 734mg