Orange Sage Turkey Brine is the easiest way to get juicy turkey this Thanksgiving. Sweet orange flavor with herbaceous sage will tenderize your bird overnight in a salty brine.
Course Marinade
Cuisine American
Keyword citrus and herb turkey, easy brining recipe for beginners, orange and sage, thanksgiving turkey, turkey brine
Prep Time 5 minutesminutes
Cook Time 15 minutesminutes
Brining Time 1 dayday
Total Time 1 dayday20 minutesminutes
Servings 1brined turkey
Calories 6509kcal
Author Lauren
Ingredients
1teaspoonfennel seeds
1teaspoonmustard seeds
½teaspoonred pepper flake
½teaspoonblack peppercorns
2bay leaves
10large sage leaves
1cupkosher salt
1 ½cupbrown sugar
½gallonorange juice
1quartwarm water
6quartscold water
3large oranges
12 to 18poundturkey
brining bag or 5 gallon bucket
Instructions
Toast the spices. In a large saucepan, add the fennel seeds and mustard seeds, heat over medium heat about 2 minutes or until fragrant. Add pepper flakes and peppercorns, bay leaves and sage and toast for 30 to 60 seconds. (Sage will crackle).
Dissolve. Add the salt and sugar to the pan, followed by the 1 quart of warm water. Bring to high heat and stir until salt and sugar are completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add the orange juice.
Prepare the brining vessel. If using a 5 gallon bucket, clean it well before adding your turkey. If using the brining bag, place the turkey in breast side down. Add the brining liquid with the spices and herbs and the cold water. Slice up 3 large oranges and add to the brining container.
Let rest. Allow the turkey to brine overnight up to 24 hours. Remove from the brine and pat dry. Let sit at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before baking.
Notes
Pickling spice is a cost friendly substitution for buying individual spices (i.e. mustard seeds, fennel seeds, etc.) . If using pickling spice, use 1 tablespoon and omit the first 5 ingredients.
If using a brining bag place the bag wi9th the turkey inside a roasting pan before filling with liquid. Otherwise, once the bag gets full it will be hard to keep it contained and close up by yourself.