Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey Recipe

Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey Recipe

  • Brine:
  • 2 quarts water
  • 5 oranges – juiced and zest cut off in large strips
  • 2 cups kosher salt
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 12 black tea bags
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 12 whole black peppercorns
  • 1 cup bourbon whiskey
  • 4 quarts cold water, or as needed
  • 1 (8 pound) whole turkey breast
  • Seasoned Butter:
  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, crushed
  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
  • 6 tablespoons butter, softened
  1. Pour 2 quarts of water into a large soup pot and stir in orange juice and zest, kosher salt, sugar, black tea bags, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, and bourbon. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix 4 quarts cold water into brine and let cool. Submerge turkey breast in brine, adding more water if needed to cover. Refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set oven rack to the lowest position in the oven.
  3. Remove turkey from marinade; discard marinade. Rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels. Mix coriander seeds, paprika, cumin seeds, and garlic into softened butter in a bowl.
  4. Loosen the skin over turkey breast with your fingers and spread 1/4 cup of seasoned butter beneath the skin. Rub remaining 2 tablespoons seasoned butter over the turkey breast. Place turkey breast onto a roasting rack and set rack into a roasting pan.
  5. Roast in the preheated oven until skin is golden brown and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 165 degrees F (75 degrees C), about 2 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let turkey breast rest 30 minutes before slicing.
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