Mean Chef's Maple Brine

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 3/4 cup kosher salt
• 3 heads garlic, cloves separated, not peeled
• 6 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 cups fresh ginger, unpeeled, chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried chili pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups soy sauce
• 5 sprigs fresh thyme
• 3 quarts water

Recipe

• 1 combine all ingredients in large stainless steel pot.
• 2 bring to simmer, remove from heat and cool completely remove turkey neck and giblets.
• 3 rinse turkey well.
• 4 put turkey in cold brine.
• 5 use a stainless, plastic or other non-reactive container.
• 6 add water if brine doesn't cover bird.
• 7 refrigerate 2- 4 days, turning bird twice a day.
• 8 to cook: remove turkey from brine, pat dry, brush with olive oil.
• 9 either grill or cook in oven.
• 10 it is also advantageous to leave the dry turkey in the refrigerator for at least 4 hour or overnight, uncovered.
• 11 this completely dries out the skin to insure a crisp finish.
• 12 do not stuff turkey.