Thanksgiving Turkey

Thanksgiving Turkey

Turkey baked in the Fontana wood-fired oven

Recipe:

Ingredients: 

  • Turkey (this one was a 13 pounder)
  • 4-5 sage leaves minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 4-5 rosemary sprigs minced
  • 12-15 garlic cloves minced
  • 14 Tablespoons salt
  • 4 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon pepper corns
  • 2 lemons, juice and zest
  • 1 orange, two slivers of zest
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4-5 Tablespoons olive oil and more to drizzle over the turkey
  • 1/2 stick butter

Prep:

Fire and preheat the Fontana Brick Oven to about 325°F 350°F.

Herbs to put in stuffing to be cooked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Remove gizzards from the belly of the Turkey and set aside for broth for the gravy and for the stuffing.

Take gizzards out of turkey to be cooked in Fontana wood-fired oven

Wash turkey thoroughly under running water.

Rinse turkey before cooking in Fontana wood-burning oven

Wash the inside of the bird thoroughly.

Rinse turkey before baking in Fontana wood-burning oven

Zest one ORANGE by removing three slivers of the rind avoiding the white part.

Citrus fruit to put in brine for turkey to be cooked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Do the same with one LEMON by removing a few slivers of the rind avoiding the white part.

Citrus fruit to put in brine for turkey to be cooked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Remove two bay leaves and place them in the pot.

Bay leaves to be placed in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Add the sage leaves to the pot, preferably fresh.

Sage to beplaced in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Strip 4 sprigs of rosemary and place to the side to be chopped.

Rosemary to be placed in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-fired oven  Crush 12 cloves of garlic with a garlic press, and add them to the pot to simmer.

Garlic to be placed in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Add 1 teaspoon pepper kernels.

Pepper placed in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Next 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Spices placed in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

In a sauce pan add 4 teaspoons brown sugar.

Brown sugar placed in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-fired oven

Add 14 tablespoons salt to the pot of water, and bring to a boil thus allowing the salt and sugar to completely dissolve.

Salt placed in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Once the salt water is prepared add it to the spices and herbs and bring everything to a simmer for about 15 minutes.

Brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-fired oven

Add ice to the brine before pouring it on the turkey in order to cool it. Avoid pouring warm liquid on the raw turkey.

Ice in brine for turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Place the turkey in a clean, heavy duty, food grade plastic storage bucket previously filled with some water and ice.

Place the turkey in a clean, heavy duty, food grade plastic storage bucket

When the brine is completely cooled off, add it to the bucket as well.

Pouring brine on turkey to be baked in Fontana brick oven

Keep adding cold water until the turkey is completely immersed in water and brine. It is time to add the juice of one lemon.

Pouring brine on turkey to be baked in Fontana brick oven

After you allow the turkey to rest refrigerated overnight in the water and brine, or in an ice cooler, pull it out and once again rinse it in order to get rid of any excess salt.

Take turkey out of ice brine to be baked in Fontana brick oven

You can now gently lift up the skin of the turkey in order to get it ready for some herbs, spices and butter.

Pull skin from turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Mince rosemary, sage, one sliver of lemon rind, and garlic with a mezza luna.

Spices to be put in  turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Add just a little salt to the butter, olive oil and the herbs. Mix well.

Butter, oil and spices to rubbed on  turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Spread this mixture under the skin of the turkey with your hands.

Butter and spices mixture to be rubbed  on  turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Spread the remainder of the mixture on the skin and the inside cavity of the turkey.

Butter and spices mixture to be rubbed on turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

Finally it is time to place some of the stuffing inside the lower cavity of the turkey.

Next place some more stuffing on the neck side of the turkey.

Next place some more stuffing on the neck side of the turkey.

Stuffing the  turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-fired oven

Close the cavity by securing the loose skin in order to keep the stuffing inside.

Closing the skin of the turkey to be baked in Fontana brick oven

Place the turkey in the pan and drizzle generously with olive oil.

Olive oil drizzled on turkey to be baked in Fontana wood-burning oven

FINALLY place the turkey inside the preheated Fontana Gusto wood-fired oven at 325°F to 350°F.

Placing turkey in the Fontana wood-fired oven

Bake the turkey according to the weight of the bird you have chosen. The rule is about 20 minutes per pound at around 325°F to 350°F.

Placing turkey in the Fontana brick oven
Placing turkey in the Fontana brick oven

Initially cover the turkey with aluminum foil.

Place foil on turkey in the Fontana wood-burning oven

Half way through roasting the turkey remove aluminum. 

Placing turkey in the Fontana brick oven

Allow the turkey to keep roasting until  an instant-read meat thermometer registers 165°F when inserted into the largest section of the thigh.

Placing turkey in the Fontana brick oven

Make sure to baste the turkey with the drippings twice every hour.

Basing the turkey in the Fontana wood-fired oven

Allow the turkey to roast until golden brown or until the internal temperature of the turkey is 165°F in the largest section of the thigh.

Placing turkey in the Fontana brick oven

Finally it is time to carefully remove the turkey from the oven.

Pulling the turkey in the Fontana brick oven

Immediately remove the stuffing from the cavity of the turkey and place it on a separate platter. It is now time to carve the bird and serve it to family and friends. Enjoy!

Turkey baked in the Fontana wood-fired oven

What is your favourite Thanksgiving Turkey recipe?

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