Smoked Turkey Recipes

Everyone likes to enjoy a good smoked turkey, but not everyone knows how to smoke a turkey and buying a smoked turkey is expensive. So what does one do? Its simple, learn how to make a smoked turkey. Here are some recipes for making a good smoked turkey.

Apple Brined and Hickory Smoked Turkey Recipe

This is a very traditional yet unconventional type smoked turkey recipe.
Ingredients:

• Apple juice, 2 quarts.
• A pound of brown sugar.
• Kosher salt, 1 cup.
• 3 oranges, quartered.
• Thin slices of 4 ounces of fresh ginger.
• 15 whole cloves.
• Bay leaves, 6 of them.
• 6 garlic cloves cleaned and crushed.
• Turkey of up to 14 pounds.
• Vegetable oil, suitable for brushing the turkey.
• Cotton string for trussing the turkey.
• A roasting pan.
• 1 heavy-gauge foil pan.
• Hickory chips that have been soaked in water for half an hour.

Preparation:

• Take a large pan and put it on high heat. To this add the apple juice, brown sugar and salt and let it come to a boil, stirring continuously so as to melt the sugar and salt. Let this mixture cook for a minute or two and then remove it from the heat. Skim off the foam and allow this mixture to cool off.
  Take a big 5 gallon plastic bucket or another container large enough to hold the turkey. Mix 3 quarts water, oranges, ginger, cloves, bay leaves, garlic and apple juice mixture to this bucket and stir.
• Take the turkey and remove all the fat from its cavity. Also remove the giblets and set aside for other use such as making turkey stock. Clean and rinse the turkey thoroughly. Now put the in the brine making sure it is fully submerged. Let the turkey cool by putting it in the fridge for a whole day.
• Now set up the grill properly. Make sure to read all the instructions regarding wood chips. Set the grill for indirect cooking and put it on medium heat.
• Now remove the turkey from the fridge, take it out from the brine and pat dry taking care to ensure that it is completely dry. Now tie the legs of the turkey together with the cotton string.
• Take a brush, dip it in vegetable oil and lightly coat the turkey. Then place the turkey on a roasting rack that has been set inside a heavy-gauge foil pan. Let it cook indirectly over medium heat.
• After 40 minutes the wings should start to turn a golden-brown, wrap it in an aluminum foil to prevent it from getting charred or too brown. You will know the turkey is cooked when its juices start running clear.
• After the turkey is cooked, set it on a cutting board and cover lightly with aluminum foil and let it sit for 20 minutes prior to carving.
• The drippings in the pan can be used to make a delicious gravy to go with the vegetables and mashed potatoes that go so well with smoked turkey.

Smoked Whole Turkey

This is another simple and easy to prepare smoked whole turkey recipe.
Ingredients:

• 1 turkey of 12 to 14 pounds.
• Brown sugar, 2 cups firmly packed.
• Hot water, 2 cups.
• Coarse salt, 1 ½ cup.
• Cold water, 2 ½ quarts.
• Peppercorns, 2 teaspoons.
• 5 large bay leaves.
• 3 garlic cloves that have been halved.
• Dry white wine or Chablis, 2 cups.

Preparation:

• Take the turkey and clean it, remove the giblets and neck, which can be used for making stock or broth. Rinse it with cold water, pat dry and set it aside.
  Now take the brown sugar, hot water and salt in a large stock pot. Stir it till the sugar dissolves. Next take the stock pot and place the turkey in it, to keep turning it coat the turkey properly.
• Remove the turkey from this brine and rinse with cold water, pat the turkey dry and set aside.
• Now prepare the charcoal fire paying careful attention to the instructions. Let it burn for 15 minutes. Sprinkle the charcoal with soaked and drained wood chips. Place a water pan on the smoker and pour in the white wine. Next add hot water to fill the pan.
• Place the turkey on the food rack with the breast down. Prop up the body so as to allow for circulation in the body cavity. Now cover the smoker with a lid and let it smoke for about 6 to 7 hours and be careful to keep filling the water pan as and when needed. You know the turkey is done when the drumsticks are easy to pull out.

These are simple and easy recipes for smoked turkey, so the next time you have guests over, impress them with your cooking skills.