Orange-Bourbon Turkey
- 1 (12-pound) fresh or frozen whole turkey, thawed
- 2 cups fresh orange juice (about 6 oranges)
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup bourbon, divided
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
- 4 oranges, peeled
- Cooking spray
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Orange slices (optional)
- Flat-leaf parsley sprigs (optional)
- 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 zip-top 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 350u0b0.
- Tie ends of legs with cord. Lift wing tips 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 roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer into meaty part of thigh, making sure not to touch bone. Bake at 350u0b0 for 3 hours or until thermometer registers 180u0b0. (Cover turkey loosely with foil if it gets too brown.) Remove turkey from oven. Cover turkey loosely with foil; let stand at least 10 minutes before carving. Discard oranges.
- Pour reserved marinade into a 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.
- NOTE: To substitute a 5-pound turkey breast for a 12-pound turkey: Omit the 4 peeled oranges used to stuff the whole turkey; disregard the giblets, neck, legs, and wings. Insert meat thermometer into meaty part of turkey breast, making sure not to touch the breastbone. Bake at 350u0b0 for 1 hour and 45 minutes or until thermometer registers 170u0b0. (Cover turkey loosely with foil if it gets too brown.)
turkey, orange juice, water, bourbon, molasses, salt, oranges, cooking spray, allpurpose, orange slices, parsley
Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/orange-bourbon-turkey (may not work)