This savory turkey brine recipe was inspired by our good family friend, Dr. David Jockers. I added my own touch that incorporated the herbs and spices I use in my Thanksgiving meal. I wanted something that would take an ordinary, organic free-range bird to a whole new level. This recipe does just that!
My favorite kind of herbes de Provence contains lavender flowers and rosemary. Bonus: This turkey brine recipe is excellent for nursing moms as there is no sage in it. I know it will be a staple at your holiday table as well!
Table of Contents:
Make Your Best Turkey Ever!
I often get asked what kind of turkey I use. I prefer to use a fresh, organic, non-GMO, pasture-raised turkey. Depending on where you live, frozen may be your only option, and that’s fine! This recipe will still work for you.
Here are some tips to help you make your best turkey ever, no matter what you have in your icebox!
- Brine the turkey when it’s fully thawed so the mixture can seep into the skin. Be sure to clean the bird before brining it, and keep putting ice over it. This ensures that your turkey stays cold!
- Be sure to plan ahead! It takes two days to brine a turkey. Anything less will give you less than desirable results.
- Rub organic butter over the turkey, adding smoked sea salt and herbes de Provence. You can make your own herbed butter blend if you really want to elevate your cooking game! I like to tuck a few pieces of butter under the turkey skin as well.
- Stick a whole onion and a full flower of garlic into the cavity of the turkey. Cut the onion in half and break out all the garlic cloves in the flower. This makes the turkey really tender and is Dr. Z’s favorite spot! Bonus: Onions are anti-cancer. (1) Win-win!
- Finish the turkey off with a big bunch of rosemary and parsley. Bend it to fit as much in the bird as you can! A little extra effort goes a long way in creating the most delicious bird.
- Stick to the same flavor palate! Incorporate Thanksgiving spices into other things, including stuffing. This helps the flavors mesh with one another, even though each dish is unique.
- Once the turkey is done, cook the organ meat separately in the same mixture. You can then use this as the start of bone broth. Bone broth is a rich source of protein that contains collagen, which is great for your skin, nails, and hair. (2)
Healthy Brine Ingredients 101
This recipe uses everyday ingredients to create one fantastic brine! I’m willing to bet that you have most of these things in your cupboard already. If not, here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart.
Sea Salt: Salt is a common ingredient in most brines as it changes the meat’s molecular structure, allowing it to retain more moisture. Traditional table salt goes through a rigorous harvesting process that strips it of vital nutrients.
We recommend using Colima sea salt because it’s hand-harvested. This gentle procedure leaves the good stuff intact!
Raw Honey: Adding honey to your brine gives your bird a little sweetness, but it also helps it get golden brown in the oven! Honey is a healthy sweetener as it’s natural and not as hard on your blood sugar as brown or white sugar. (3) We recommend using raw honey as it’s minimally processed.
Purified or Distilled Water: Tap water can contain toxins linked to congenital disabilities, diabetes, and more. For this reason, we recommend that you always use purified or distilled water.
This doesn’t mean you have to use plastic bottles, though! There are plenty of excellent in-home filtration systems that make purifying water a breeze.
Vegetables and Herbs: Adding vegetables gives your brine a little extra flavor. For this recipe, we use onions, celery, and carrots. I also love using garlic and rosemary in my brine. Get creative and come up with your own flavor combos.
The herbs release their juices and oils during the boiling process, which creates one rich brine! I guarantee you’ll never skip this step again!
Make Mama Z’s Turkey Brine Recipe
Brining a turkey sounds fancy, but it’s not complicated. All you have to do is boil some ingredients together and keep the turkey cool!
You can start brining your turkey two days before eating, but not any later than the morning before cooking. Remember, the longer you let it brine, the better your results.
- 1 cup freshly ground pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
- 1 cup raw organic honey
- 1 quart boiling filtered water
- 7 quarts of filtered water
- 1 large organic onion, diced
- 2 large organic carrots, diced
- 3 stalks organic celery, diced
- 1 flower of garlic, open all the cloves
- ½ bunch rosemary
- ¼ cup organic herbes de Provence
- 6 bay leaves
- Ice
- Large cooler
- Large pot
- Put the turkey in a large cooler filled with ice.
- Place the sea salt, honey, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, rosemary, herbes de Provence, bay leaves, and boiling water in a large pot over medium heat. Stir until the salt and honey are dissolved.
- Pour the heated mixture over the turkey, then add the rest of the water to the large pot and fill the rest with ice. Continue to add more ice as you check on it a few times each day.
- On the day you plan to cook the turkey, remove it from the brine and rinse it well. I like to stuff the cavity of my turkey with herbs like rosemary, sage, and parsley. I've also added garlic and onion with great results!
- Cook the turkey as you usually do
Step One: Create the Brine
Place the sea salt, honey, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, rosemary, herbes de Provence, bay leaves, and boiling water in a large pot over medium heat. Stir until the salt and honey are dissolved.
Step Two: Pour Brine Over Turkey
Pour the heated mixture over the turkey, then add the rest of the water to the cooler and fill the rest with ice. Continue to add more ice as you check on it a few times each day.
Step Three: Cook the Turkey
On the day you plan to cook the turkey, remove it from the brine and rinse it well. I like to stuff the cavity of my turkey with herbs like rosemary, sage, and parsley. I’ve also added garlic and onion with great results!
Cook the turkey as you usually do. Serve with my gluten-free gravy for the ultimate indulgence.
Want more healthy holiday recipes? Check out this list of our favorite favorite Thanksgiving recipes! These dishes are free of sugar and gluten, but not free of flavor! You’ll find side dishes, drinks, appetizers, and desserts.
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