Grilled Turkey with Citrus-Herb Salt and Sage Butter – Thanksgiving on the Grill

This is the best time of year as each month is crowned with a wonderful holiday for sharing with family and friends.  However, Thanksgiving can cause such a flurry in the kitchen leaving you exhausted and overwhelmed.  Bring the turkey outside to your grill with the Thanksgiving on the Grill Series from Summerset and Grilled Turkey with Citrus-Herb Salt and Sage Butter.  This preparation will amaze your friends and your palate while freeing up the kitchen for side dishes and desserts.

Begin by butterflying a medium size turkey and brine it in a mixture of water, salt, brown sugar, and bourbon that has been heated and simmered until completely dissolved and mixed. Brining infuses moisture and flavor deep throughout the bird so that it doesn’t dry out the grill.  The sage compound butter is a flavorful mixture of herbs and fat to add extra flavor, allow for beautiful browning, and protect the turkey from burning.  The herb and citrus rub adds flavors of lemon, lime, thyme, and rosemary adding robust seasoning and texture to the skin as it crisps.  The turkey finishes moist, savory, smoky, and gorgeous perfect for a centerpiece dish on a beautiful holiday.  Enjoy this time of gratefulness and fellowship with the Thanksgiving on the Grill Series.

Serves 6-8

Grilled Turkey With Citrus-Herb Salt And Sage Butter Ingredients

  • 12-14lb. turkey, thawed (Note: Check the packaging on your turkey before brining, as many turkeys are pre-injected with a saline solution and will be overly salty if also brined)
  • 2 gallons water
  • 1 cup Kosher salt
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup bourbon
  • Sage compound butter (recipe follows)
  • 3 tbsp. canola oil
  • Herb and citrus rub (recipe follows)

Sage Compound Butter

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 tbsp. chopped sage
  • 1 tbsp. chopped rosemary
  • 1 tbsp. chopped parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ¼ tsp. ground thyme

Herb and Citrus Rub

  • ¼ cup Kosher salt
  • ½ tsp. fresh thyme leaves
  • ½ tsp. chopped rosemary
  • ½ tsp. lemon zest
  • ½ tsp. lime zest
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped

Grilled Turkey With Citrus-Herb Salt And Sage Butter Directions

  1. Place turkey on a large cutting board breast side down and use poultry shears to cut along both sides of the backbone. Flip the turkey over, open it up and push on the breastbone with both hands to flatten the turkey.
  2. Heat the water, Kosher salt, brown sugar, and bourbon in a large pot over medium-high heat. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes until the salt and brown sugar have completely dissolved. Remove from heat and allow the liquid to cool to room temperature.
  3. Place turkey breast side down in a large stockpot and cover completely with the brine, weighing it down if necessary to ensure it is completely submerged. Refrigerate for approximately 1 hour per pound.
  4. Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse well. Discard the brine, place the turkey bone side down on a sheet pan and allow it to air dry in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
  5. Prepare smoker or grill for indirect cooking and preheat to 350 degrees. Once the charcoal comes to temperature, add 2-3 chunks of your favorite smoking wood to the charcoal for the perfect touch of smoke.  Work the sage compound butter under the skin of the turkey then rub the outside of the turkey with the canola oil and season with the herb and citrus salt.
  6. Place a disposable aluminum pan filled halfway with water or turkey broth below the main cooking grate. Replace grate and set the turkey bone-side down above the aluminum pan.  Insert a remote temperature gauge into the thickest part of the turkey breast making sure that it isn’t touching bone.  Allow the turkey to cook for approximately 15 minutes per pound (3 hours for a 12lb. turkey) until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
  7. Remove the turkey from the grill, tent loosely with foil and allow it to rest for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Sage Compound Butter

  1. Blend all ingredients in a small bowl well and set it aside until ready to use.

Herb and Citrus Rub

  1. Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until all of the ingredients are combined.

Taken from Grillocracy.com
https://www.grillocracy.com/blog/2015/10/21/grilled-turkey-with-citrus-herb-salt-and-sage-butter

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