Holiday Spiced Fried Turkey Recipe
Certified health coach and world-renowned chef Nancy Waldeck shares her recipe for a perfect crispy-outside, juicy-inside Holiday Spiced Fried Turkey.Holiday Spiced Fried Turkey Recipe
Certified health coach and world-renowned chef Nancy Waldeck shares her recipe for a perfect crispy-outside, juicy-inside Holiday Spiced Fried Turkey.
Brine Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 quarts apple cider
- 8 large garlic cloves
- 8” fresh ginger, cut in 1/4” slices
- 2 (3-4”) sticks of cinnamon
- 12 black peppercorns
- 4 oranges, cut in quarters
- 1 cup sea salt
- 6 quarts of cold water
- 2 quarts apple cider
- 8 large garlic cloves
- 8” fresh ginger, cut in 1/4” slices
- 2 (3-4”) sticks of cinnamon
- 12 black peppercorns
- 4 oranges, cut in quarters
- 1 cup sea salt
- 6 quarts of cold water
Directions
Brine: Day 1
Heat the brine to a boil in a 16 qt. pot with all ingredients, stirring to dissolve salt. Cool to room temperature. Stir in 1.5 gallons cold water. Submerge turkey in brine and refrigerate overnight.
Brine: Day 2
Remove turkey from brine and pat COMPLETELY dry with paper towels. Discard brine. Season turkey inside and out with salt and pepper.
Fry Turkey
Preheat peanut oil to 375F. Spray basket with peanut oil and place dried turkey in basket. SLOWLY lower turkey into peanut oil. When the fryer comes back up to temperature, cook for 3-4 minutes per lb. of turkey.
Carve & Serve
When the turkey is done, slowly lift it from fryer and place on paper towels to drain. Wait about 30 minutes before removing the turkey from the basket to carve.
*This liquid can also be used to inject the turkey
Frying Ingredients:
2.5 gallons of peanut oil (or the capacity of oil your fryer instructions recommend)
10-12 lb. turkey, brined overnight and dried completely. If frozen, defrost in the fridge and then give your turkey a complete rubdown with paper towels to dry it completely. (Double and triple check the bird to make sure there is no ice hidden in the cavity.)
About the Chef
Healthy Chef and Partyologist Nancy Waldeck’s exuberant approach to healthy cuisine and delicious wine is known worldwide. Chef Waldeck is an Emory University certified health coach and the author of two cookbooks — Taste and Savor (2010) and Taste and Savor Life! (2018). Each year, she leads more than 100 classes around the globe. She’s shared her tasty recipes and wine pairings at US embassies in Burundi, Africa and Russia and has also taught at Google, Southern Company and Norfolk Southern. Her internationally recognized advanced certificate from London’s Wine and Spirits Education Trust allows her to teach both enthusiasts and professionals wine basics and beyond. At the intersection of wine, cuisine and travel is where her expertise and passion meet and it results in fascinating and informative classes, tours, stories and more. Come into her kitchen, follow her on the road or read her blog and share a healthy meal and glass of wine with her.