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Gallery Spice-Cured Turkey Recipe Summary Servings: 14

Ingredients For the Brine 4 cups coarse salt 5 cups sugar 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 onions, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 leeks, cut into 1-inch pieces and cleaned of all sand 3 bay leaves 1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons crushed red-pepper flakes 1 teaspoon cloves 2 teaspoons whole allspice 8 cups water For the Turkey and Gravy One 18- to 20-pound organic turkey Apple-Chestnut Stuffing Spice Butter, softened 1/2 cup apple cider 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 cups homemade or low-sodium canned chicken stock

Gallery Spice-Cured Turkey

Recipe Summary Servings: 14

Spice-Cured Turkey

Spice-Cured Turkey

Spice-Cured Turkey

Recipe Summary Servings: 14

Recipe Summary

Servings: 14

Servings: 14

14

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 4 cups coarse salt 5 cups sugar 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 onions, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 leeks, cut into 1-inch pieces and cleaned of all sand 3 bay leaves 1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons crushed red-pepper flakes 1 teaspoon cloves 2 teaspoons whole allspice 8 cups water

  • One 18- to 20-pound organic turkey Apple-Chestnut Stuffing Spice Butter, softened 1/2 cup apple cider 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 cups homemade or low-sodium canned chicken stock

Directions

In a large stockpot, combine salt, sugar, carrots, celery, onions, leeks, bay leaves, garlic, peppercorns, cumin, red-pepper flakes, cloves, and allspice. Add the water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. The brine needs to cool completely before the turkey is soaked in it: It can be made a day ahead or chilled over an ice bath.

Rinse turkey under cold water; pat dry. Place in stockpot, breast side down. Add brine and enough water to cover. Cover the stockpot, and refrigerate overnight. Remove turkey from brine; drain.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Fill cavities with stuffing, being careful not to pack too tightly. Secure skin over neck cavity with toothpicks or skewers, and tie legs together with kitchen twine. Rub turkey generously with spice butter, and place on a rack in a roasting pan.

Place in oven, and roast 30 minutes. Baste, rotate pan, and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Continue basting every 30 to 45 minutes, until temperature taken in thickest part of the thigh registers 180 degrees. 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Once turkey is well browned, cover with foil, in sections, if necessary to prevent overbrowning. Remove foil for last 30 to 60 minutes, to crisp skin. Allow turkey to rest 30 minutes before carving. While turkey is resting, remove stuffing.

To make gravy, pour liquid from the roasting pan into a gravy skimmer; set aside. Place the roasting pan on the stove over medium-high heat; deglaze with 1/2 cup apple cider, using a wooden spoon to scrape up bits stuck to the pan. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, combine 3 tablespoons of reserved fat from pan and flour; cook 3 to 4 minutes, until browned. Add reserved apple-cider mixture, stock, and any separated juices from pan. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Serve.

Reviews (12)

 Add Rating & Review     54 Ratings   5 star values:        29    4 star values:        13    3 star values:        8    2 star values:        2    1 star values:        2

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Reviews (12)

Add Rating & Review     54 Ratings   5 star values:        29    4 star values:        13    3 star values:        8    2 star values:        2    1 star values:        2

Add Rating & Review

54 Ratings 5 star values: 29 4 star values: 13 3 star values: 8 2 star values: 2 1 star values: 2

54 Ratings 5 star values: 29 4 star values: 13 3 star values: 8 2 star values: 2 1 star values: 2

54 Ratings 5 star values: 29 4 star values: 13 3 star values: 8 2 star values: 2 1 star values: 2

  • 5 star values: 29 4 star values: 13 3 star values: 8 2 star values: 2 1 star values: 2

    Martha Stewart Member     Rating: 5 stars       11/28/2013   Hands down! the best recipe ever for turkey....I have tried them all. This recipe delivers a moist and flavorful turkey. The spices can seem intimidating at first, yet the combination of seasonings delivers a subtle flavour that is unbeatable. I used a little less salt and the recipe was still fantastic.  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: 5 stars       11/17/2013   It really is the best turkey ever. We make it exactly like the recipe: spice butter, brine, everything. The accompanying apple-chestnut stuffing recipe is the perfect counterpart.  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/23/2011   Iam having troulbe getting the salt to disolve as it has with other brines I make - any thoughts......  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/03/2011   I tried first time this recipe 10 years ago, and have tried some different recipes just to change some new ideas, but I always come back to this one as THE BEST TURKEY RECIPE ever! The flavor and juices are extraordinary, and all people always rate turkey 10. I highly recommend everyone to try and keep this recipe forever. It is always a hit! great turkey.  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/25/2010   I made the Spice Cured Turkey for Thanksgiving. It was a big hit! Really easy to put together, and well worth the day early prep. The brine makes for a moist flavorful bird, and the spice butter imparts a really wonderful flavor and leads to a wonderfully crispy skin. I will be using this recipe again!  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/27/2009   I tried this recipe for Thanksgiving and it was the best turkey ever! So tender and tasty. Thanks Martha.  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/26/2009   This was my very first turkey, and I loved this recipe. Easy, moist, nice subtle flavor, pretty on the outside... no fuss, great turkey. :)  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/24/2009   This is our Thanksgiving turkey every year since the article was printed. It's FABULOUS! A must have for us.  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/21/2009   Any ideas out there on how to make this recipe just for a turkey breast?  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/15/2009   coarse salt is kosher salt, you can find it at any grocery store.  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/13/2009   What happens if I can't find coarse salt at the store? Is that the same thing as Seat Salt? Can I use table salt?  

Martha Stewart Member     Rating: Unrated       11/24/2008   This recipe is truly awsome. You follow exact quantities and ingredients. I have tried several recipes from Martha, but this one is defintely a winner!!!! Try it, you will never want to try another one.

    Martha Stewart Member

    Rating: 5 stars 11/28/2013

Hands down! the best recipe ever for turkey….I have tried them all. This recipe delivers a moist and flavorful turkey. The spices can seem intimidating at first, yet the combination of seasonings delivers a subtle flavour that is unbeatable. I used a little less salt and the recipe was still fantastic.

Rating: 5 stars

Rating: 5 stars 11/17/2013

It really is the best turkey ever. We make it exactly like the recipe: spice butter, brine, everything. The accompanying apple-chestnut stuffing recipe is the perfect counterpart.

Rating: Unrated 11/23/2011

Iam having troulbe getting the salt to disolve as it has with other brines I make - any thoughts……

Rating: Unrated

Rating: Unrated 11/03/2011

I tried first time this recipe 10 years ago, and have tried some different recipes just to change some new ideas, but I always come back to this one as THE BEST TURKEY RECIPE ever! The flavor and juices are extraordinary, and all people always rate turkey 10. I highly recommend everyone to try and keep this recipe forever. It is always a hit! great turkey.

Rating: Unrated 11/25/2010

I made the Spice Cured Turkey for Thanksgiving. It was a big hit! Really easy to put together, and well worth the day early prep. The brine makes for a moist flavorful bird, and the spice butter imparts a really wonderful flavor and leads to a wonderfully crispy skin. I will be using this recipe again!

Rating: Unrated 11/27/2009

I tried this recipe for Thanksgiving and it was the best turkey ever! So tender and tasty. Thanks Martha.

Rating: Unrated 11/26/2009

This was my very first turkey, and I loved this recipe. Easy, moist, nice subtle flavor, pretty on the outside… no fuss, great turkey. :)

Rating: Unrated 11/24/2009

This is our Thanksgiving turkey every year since the article was printed. It’s FABULOUS! A must have for us.

Rating: Unrated 11/21/2009

Any ideas out there on how to make this recipe just for a turkey breast?

Rating: Unrated 11/15/2009

coarse salt is kosher salt, you can find it at any grocery store.

Rating: Unrated 11/13/2009

What happens if I can’t find coarse salt at the store? Is that the same thing as Seat Salt? Can I use table salt?

Rating: Unrated 11/24/2008

This recipe is truly awsome. You follow exact quantities and ingredients. I have tried several recipes from Martha, but this one is defintely a winner!!!! Try it, you will never want to try another one.

All Reviews for Spice-Cured Turkey

  • of Reviews Reviews: Most Helpful Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

All Reviews for Spice-Cured Turkey

  • of Reviews

    Reviews: Most Helpful Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful     Most Positive     Least Positive     Newest