Orange, Tea, Bourbon-Brined Paprika Butter Turkey

Great-tasting roast turkey flavor. Cook an 8-pound turkey breast on the weekend and enjoy flavorful turkey sandwiches all week. Can also be used on a full-size turkey. Cooking time is about 15 minutes per pound. If desired, make 1 cup seasoned butter and add 2 tablespoons to your turkey gravy.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 2 hr
• Total Time: 2 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 508 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 4 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 quarts water
• 6 whole cloves
• 2 cups kosher salt
• Brine:
• 1 cup bourbon whiskey
• 12 whole black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons coriander seeds, crushed
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, crushed
• 5 oranges - juiced and zest cut off in large strips
• 12 black tea bags
• 4 quarts cold water, or as needed
• 1 (8 pound) whole turkey breast
• Seasoned Butter:
• 6 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped

Recipe Instructions

Step 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.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Set oven rack to the lowest position in the oven.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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.