Printable Recipe: Brined and Roasted Wild Turkey Recipe

Brined and Roasted Wild Turkey Recipe

This is one of the best wild turkey recipes I?ve tried. The special brine will keep the turkey moist, help spread the seasoning through the entire turkey, and can help trick finicky palates into finding the gamey flavor of wild turkey more pleasing.

Ingredients:
1 wild turkey (10-14 lb)

Brine:
5 quarts water
1/2 C. salt
1/4 C. brown sugar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp soy sauce

Seasoning:
1/4 C. lemon juice
1 C. butter, melted
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
4-6 slices bacon

Basting Sauce:
1/4 C. butter, melted
1/3 C. white wine

Instructions: Mix brine ingredients. In a large, clean bucket (or any clean, non-reactive container you have), immerse turkey in brining mixture for 24 hours. Drain and dry very thoroughly. Set out one additional hour to dry completely. Rub outside and inside of turkey with lemon juice.

At this point, you make want to smoke the turkey for added flavor, as smoked wild turkey is particularly good. (However, this is optional.) If smoking, smoke six hours according to your smoker's directions.

If stuffing the turkey, stuff it at this time using the recipe of your choice.

Mix butter, pepper, and salt, and rub mixture on skin and into cavity of turkey. Lay bacon slices over breast meat. Place the turkey breast side up in roasting pan. Mix melted butter and white wine. Bake in 325 degree oven about 3 to 3 3/4 hours (cook time will be less if turkey is smoked, more if turkey is stuffed), basting occasionally with butter and white wine mixture. Turkey is ready when legs and joints move loosely and internal temperature reads 165 degrees F.