Happy Thanksgiving and Char-Broiled Turkey!
My sister-in-law and I decided to take Thanksgiving to Grandma's house this year. We thought she might like to have the festivities at her home. She hasn't been well and traveling is out of the question. We spent time planning last week and did a good job of minimizing the menu. There will be a small group this year and we decided to keep it simple and keep it basic!The turkey will be on the barbecue. We have barbecued a turkey this way every year for about fifteen years. I usually have one in the oven and one on the grill! The Kitchen Gnome does a fantastic job! Barbecued turkey never tasted so good. It is succulent, flavorful, and the aroma is wonderful! If you have never prepared a turkey on the barbecue, do, it is simple and well worth the adventure.
Char-Broiled Turkey
Cooking Time: 25 minutes per pound
Method: Grill, low fire
12-14 lb turkey, thawed, cleaned, rinsed
salt and pepper
vegetable oil
1 large onion, cut in large cubes
2 stalks celery, cut in 2" chunks
1 large orange, cut in eighths
1 large apple, cut in eighths
4-5 sprigs parsley
5-6 sprigs thyme
Plus dried herbs to sprinkle on the outside of the bird, if desired.
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
1-1/2 sticks butter
1 lemon, thinly sliced or 4 Tbsp lemon juice
Mesquite chips (optional)
Cheesecloth (optional)
Preheat grill to medium. Wash and rinse turkey, remove giblets. Pat dry. Bend wings back behind turkey. Season inside of turkey with salt and pepper.
Stuff with onions, celery, orange, apple, and herbs (your choice). Completely fill cavity (this gives moisture to the turkey). Cover openings of turkey with excess skin. Rub outside of bird with oil. Sprinkle with herbs, if desired.
Melt butter and pour into a large aluminum foil pan. Add turkey, water, broth and lemon slices or juice.
Place on grill and turn heat to low. Add mesquite chips. Baste with butter, cover top with cheesecloth and baste again. Cook about 25 minutes per pound, basting every 1/2 hour until done. Add wood chips as needed.
If using a gas grill, set the temperature at 350 degrees.
PRINTABLE RECIPE
We had a "practice run" last week. I wanted to try out a few recipes which meant I just had to have a turkey! So the Kitchen Gnome got to do the entire turkey by himself, since I was a work! He did a great job for his first solo attempt! (I quickly snapped a picture when I got home.)
Kate I've never grilled a turkey!! I have one small turkey left in my freezer after the deep frying experiments and I'm going to use this recipe!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLaura
mmmmmm..never had grilled turkey..
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS turkey! I've had such a difficult time finding a turkey here in Belgium--they're Christmas food, and not normally available this time of the year. But I finally found a butcher who phoned a farmer and I'll have one after all. I was afraid I was going to have to find a fat chicken!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. Makes me wish I had a grill!
Kate, How sweet of you all to take Thanksgiving to your Grandma. :) That's what it's all about, imo!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I actually prefer the turkey done on the grill rather than in the conventional oven. Yours looks beautiful, nicely browned and so succulent and juicy!
I'm drooling over your photo!
We do it in the Weber kettle (using the indirect roasting method). I catch the drippings in a metal pan centered under the bird. Degreased, the juices are such a flavorful base for amazing gravy.
I hope you and your loved ones have the happiest Thanksgiving! xo~m
I'd love to experiment more with turkey roasting but dear sweet Mr. Tastebuds gets so nervous if I do anything different with the turkey.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year I can dull him a bit and cook it on the grill! Your recipe sounds so good!
Sounds like a delicious Thanksgiving with your family! Your Turkey looks fantastic! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteMmmmm! Looks really yummy! If it weren't for the fact the my 26-pounder won't fit in my grill, I'd be trying this!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so delicious! Such a nice recipe! I hope you and your family have a lovely and relaxing day together! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for commenting on my blog. I will be following you. This looks like a fun place.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving Kate. What a good thing you are doing for your Grandmother.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME. that's a turkey i'd look forward to eating on thanksgiving and for the week afterward!
ReplyDeletehappy turkey day, kate!