Belle’s Cajun Butter Turkey

Name: Belle's Cajun Butter Turkey
Yield: 12-15 lb turkey
Ingredients: 12-15 lb turkey, thawed in the fridge (3-4 days); Kosher salt: 1 tbsp per 5 lb (skip if pre-brined); 2 lb unsalted butter, soft; 1 tbsp each rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, chopped; 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (less for kids); 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tbsp lemon juice; 2 onions, 3 carrots, 4 celery, 2 lemons; 2 1/2 cups chicken broth; Cheesecloth and a meat injector

Belle keeps her turkey juicy with butter three ways: under the skin, injected deep, and soaked into a cheesecloth laid over the bird. The cloth comes off for the last half hour so the skin crisps.

12-15 lb turkey
Overnight + 3-4 hours

A glossy golden roasted turkey in a dark roasting pan with a butter-soaked cheesecloth peeled back, steam rising, lemons and roasted onions around it, on a candlelit Thanksgiving table.

Ingredients

12-15 lb turkey, thawed in the fridge (3-4 days)
Kosher salt: 1 tbsp per 5 lb (skip if pre-brined)
2 lb unsalted butter, soft
1 tbsp each rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, chopped
1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (less for kids)
1 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp pepper, 1 tbsp lemon juice
2 onions, 3 carrots, 4 celery, 2 lemons
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
Cheesecloth and a meat injector

You’ll wanta roasting pan with a rack, a meat injector, cheesecloth and a meat thermometer.

Method

Brine: Salt all over, fridge overnight. No rinse. Wash hands and board.
Butter: Mix it all. Half under the skin and all over.
Pan: Half the veg inside, the rest + broth in the pan.
Roast: 45 min at 400°F (200°C), then 325°F (160°C).
Inject: Melt and strain the other half. Inject 8 spots, soak the cloth in it, lay it on.
Finish: 2½-3 hours more, baste hourly. Cloth stays in the pan, off the oven walls. Off for the last 30 min.
Done: 165°F (74°C), thickest breast, off the bone. Rest 1 hour.

Inspired by @themoodyfoody.