Easy

Dry brine turkey and spiced gravy recipe

Name: Dry brine turkey and spiced gravy recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 170 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 4kg turkey; 40.00 ml extra virgin olive oil; 1 each bay leaf, cinnamon quill, star anise; 750ml chicken stock; 50g unsalted butter, melted; 3 tsp plain flour; 11⁄220.00 ml mixed peppercorns, toasted and crushed; 3 tsp coriander seeds, crushed; 3 dried bay leaves, crushed; 30g salt; 3 garlic cloves, crushed; 60g brown sugar; Zest of 2 oranges; Zest of 2 lemons

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2h 30m

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by Warren Mendes

delicious. team

Dec 13, 2016

The key to making a great turkey is to brine it first, and Warren Mendes has taken the fuss out with a dry version.

4kg turkey
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 each bay leaf, cinnamon quill, star anise
3 cups (750ml) chicken stock
50g unsalted butter, melted
3 tsp plain flour

Dry brine

11⁄2 tbs mixed peppercorns, toasted and crushed
3 tsp coriander seeds, crushed
3 dried bay leaves, crushed
1/3 cup (30g) salt flakes
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1⁄4 cup (60g) brown sugar
Zest of 2 oranges
Zest of 2 lemons

Method

1.

For the brine, combine ingredients in a bowl. Rub over turkey and inside cavity. Place on a rack in a roasting dish and tie legs together. Cover with cling film and chill overnight. The next day, rinse well in cold water. Return to pan and dry with paper towel.
2.

Preheat oven to 200oC fan-forced. Drizzle with olive oil. There is no need to season. Place the bay, cinnamon and star anise in the tray and add the stock. Place turkey in the oven and roast for 30 minutes or until slightly golden, then reduce oven to 150°C.
3.

Roast a further 2 hours, or until the internal temperature is 75°C when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a thermometer (or when the juices run clear when pierced). If browning too quickly, cover with foil. Brush often with butter for the final 30 minutes.
4.

Remove from the oven. Rest, loosely covered with foil, for at least 20 minutes. To make gravy, drain pan juices and skim fat. Simmer in saucepan over medium heat.
5.

Add flour and whisk until thickened. Serve sliced turkey with gravy, potatoes and salad.