Golden Honey Sage Roast Turkey: A Moist and Flavorful Holiday Delight 🍯🦃

Honey Brined Herb Roasted Turkey 🍯🦃

Prep Time: 12 hours
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 16 hours
Servings: 16

Description:

Allow 12 – 18 hours for the turkey to marinate in the brine. It’s worth the wait as this process always assures a moist, flavorful turkey. Perfect for holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hanukkah, or any special occasion when you want to impress your guests with a tender, juicy bird bursting with aromatic herb and honey flavors.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Turkey:

   • Remove giblets and neck from the turkey, reserving them for gravy if desired.
   • Rinse the turkey with cold running water and drain well. Pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels.

2. Make the Brine:

   • In a large bowl, combine water, kosher salt, honey, minced garlic, black pepper, and half of the thyme and sage.
   • Stir until the honey and salt dissolve completely. This flavorful brine will infuse the turkey with moisture and taste.

3. Brine the Turkey:

   • Line an extra-large stockpot with a food-safe plastic bag.
   • Place the rinsed turkey in the bag and pour the prepared brine over it.
   • Add the remaining thyme and sage into the bag with the turkey.
   • Seal the bag tightly, ensuring the turkey is fully surrounded by the brine.
   • Refrigerate the pot with the brined turkey for at least 12 hours, allowing the flavors to penetrate the meat.

4. Roast the Turkey:

   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Remove the turkey from the brine and pat it dry inside and out with paper towels. Discard the brine.
   • Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack in a large shallow roasting pan.

5. Season the Turkey:

   • Squeeze the juice from the lemons into the cavity of the turkey, then place the lemon halves inside along with the remaining thyme and sage.
   • Lightly coat the turkey with olive oil and season generously inside and out with salt and pepper.

6. Roast to Perfection:

   • Insert an oven-safe meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, ensuring it doesn’t touch the bone.
   • Roast the turkey in the preheated oven, basting with poultry stock every half hour or so to keep it moist.
   • Loosely cover the turkey with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning, removing the foil during the last hour and a half of cooking time.
   • Continue roasting until the thermometer registers 180°F (82°C) in the thigh or 170°F (77°C) in the breast.

7. Rest and Carve:

   • Once done, remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist and tender bird.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):

• Calories: 610
• Total Fat: 27g
  • Saturated Fat: 7.5g
• Cholesterol: 219.8mg
• Sodium: 14456.5mg
• Carbohydrates: 21.1g
  • Fiber: 0.4g
  • Sugar: 18.6g
• Protein: 67.3g

Indulge in the succulent flavors of this honey-brined herb roasted turkey, a culinary masterpiece that will delight your guests and elevate any festive gathering! 🎉🍽️