- Apple Cider Turkey Brine
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My friend Austin passed along a recipe for an interesting Turkey brine. Brines are used to help the meat absorb more liquid, thus cooking juicer and more tender.
I'm not cooking for Thanksgiving, but I will be making a turkey in a couple of weeks for an early Christmas dinner with some friends. I am definitely going to give this a try.
Apple Cider Brine
2/3 a cup of sea salt
2/3 a cup of sugar
6 slices of fresh ginger root
2-3 bay leaves
6 whole cloves
1 tablespoon black pepper
8 cups apple cider
In a 3-4 quart saucepan, add the ingredients and and stir. Bring to a boil for 3 minutes, then remove from the heat.
When cooled, add 4 cups of cold water and transfer to a large enough pot to hold the turkey.
When ready, place the turkey in the brine. The turkey should be covered by the liquid. If necessary, add more apple cider to the mix. If you add more than 2-3 cups, add some more salt as well.
The turkey should brine in the refrigerator for around 24 hours.