Bourbon Brined Pumpkin Molasses Glazed Turkey Drumsticks Recipe 475 Recipes

POMEGRANATE GLAZED TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• Pat the drumsticks completely dry and place on a baking sheet fitted with a cooling rack. Mix 1/4 cup salt, a few grinds black pepper and the sugar in a small bowl, then rub the mixture all over the drumsticks. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 4 hours and up to overnight. Rinse the legs and pat them completely dry.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Mix the butter with the cumin, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper and rub the mixture all over the drumsticks, getting underneath the skin if you can. Brush the drumsticks all over with the pomegranate molasses. Add 1 cup water to the bottom of the baking sheet and tent the sheet with foil. Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil from the pan and brush the turkey legs all over with the pomegranate molasses. Continue baking for 30 minutes, uncovered, then brush one last time. Bake until the skin is crispy and the turkey has reached 165 degrees F (avoiding bone), about 30 minutes more. Brush a final time with the molasses (be sure to use a fresh bowl of molasses and a clean brush to avoid cross-contamination with raw turkey juices) and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice the turkey and serve with the remaining pomegranate molasses on the side.

MAPLE BOURBON BRINED TURKEY LEGS

Steps:

• In a medium pot, over low heat, add all the ingredients, except the turkey. Cook stirring to combine and dissolve the salt. When salt has dissolved, remove from the heat and let cool. Add the turkey drumsticks to a large resealable plastic bag, and pour in the brine. Seal the bag well, and put into a bowl (in case of leaks). Refrigerate for 24 hours.
• After 24 hours, remove the turkey, discard the brine and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a roasting pan, fitted with a rack, add the turkey drumsticks, making sure there is room between each for even cooking. Roast for 90 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving platter and serve hot or cold.

ORANGE-BOURBON TURKEY

Steps:

• Remove giblets and neck from turkey; discard. Rinse turkey thoroughly with cold water; pat dry. Combine orange juice, water, 1/2 cup bourbon, and molasses in a 2-gallon heavy-duty ziptop plastic bag; add turkey. Seal and marinate in refrigerator 4 to 24 hours turning bag occasionally. Remove turkey from bag, reserving marinade.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Tie ends of legs with cord. Lift wing tip up and over back and tuck under bird. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt into body cavity. Stuff cavity with oranges. Place turkey on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray or on a rack set in a shallow pan. Insert meat thermometer into meaty part of thigh, making sure not to touch bone. Bake at 350 degrees for 3 hours or until thermometer registers 180 degrees. (Cover loosely with foil if it gets too brown.) Remove turkey from oven. Cover loosely with foil; let stand at least 10 minutes before carving. Discard oranges.
• Pour reserved marinade into saucepan; bring to a boil. Skim foam from mixture with a slotted spoon; discard. Reduce heat to medium; cook until reduced to 3 1/2 cups (about 15 minutes). Combine 1/4 cup bourbon and flour in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add to reduced marinade; bring to a boil and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt. Serve sauce with turkey. Garnish with orange slices and parsley sprigs if desired.

BOURBON TURKEY BRINE

Steps:

• Add sugar & salt to 1.5 cup of bourbon take HALF of the herbs,1 apple, 1 orange and orange rind, peppercorns,1 garlic head, and 1 onion in saucepan bring to a low boil dissolving the sugar & salt. Remove from heat.
• Take a potato masher and gently press down the ingredients in the saucepan so all the flavors can release into the bourbon. Add 1 cup of ice to cool down.
• Line large bucket or pot with brining bag add the OTHER HALF of the herbs, fruit, peppercorns, orange rind, garlic & onion.
• Place turkey in bag, add 1 cup of bourbon to the inside cavity of turkey, 7 cups of cold water, then add bourbon & ice mixture finish with 8 more cups of bourbon.
• Stir & submerge turkey in bourbon brine make sure no air is in brining bag. Take the flavor injector, and inject the turkey in several different areas with the brining solution.
• Refrigerate & rotate every 12 hours.
• Brine for 48 hours, bring to room temperature for 45 minutes. Pat dry and cook. (SEE BOURBON DRUNKEN UPSIDE-DOWN TURKEY RECIPE).