Maple Turkey Recipe

Barbecued Turkey With Maple-Mustard Glaze

Yield: 1 Servings

Ingredients

FOR TURKEY:

6 qt water
2 lg onions; quartered
1 c coarse salt
1 c chopped fresh ginger
3/4 c (packed) golden brown sugar
4 lg bay leaves
4 whole star anise
12 whole black peppercorns; crushed
1 13-to-14-pound turkey; giblets discarded
4 c hickory smoke chips; soaked in water 30 minute
1 disposable 9x6 1/4x1-inch aluminum; broiler pans
2 lg oranges; cut into wedges
1/4 c olive oil
2 tb oriental sesame oil

FOR GLAZE:

3/4 c pure maple syrup
1/2 c dry white wine
1/3 c dijon mustard
2 tb (1/4 stick) butter

Instructions

First the turkey is soaked overnight in a brine to improve flavor and ensure moist meat. (Be sure to use a pot large enough to hold both the brine and the turkey.) The smokiness of the turkey is offset beautifully by the tangy, sweet glaze, which incorporates two quintessential Napa Valley ingredients: wine and mustard.

Make turkey: Combine first 8 ingredients in very large pot. Bring mixture to simmer, stirring until salt and sugar dissolve. Cool brine completely.

Rinse turkey inside and out. Place turkey in brine, pressing to submerge. Chill overnight, turning turkey twice.

If using charcoal barbecue: Mound charcoal briquettes in barbecue and burn until light gray. Using tongs, carefully divide hot briquettes into 2 piles, 1 pile at each side of barbecue. Sprinkle each pile with generous 1/2 cup hickory chips. Place empty broiler pan between piles. Position grill at least 6 inches above briquettes. Position vents on barbecue so that chips smoke and briquettes burn but do not flame.

If using gas or electric barbecue: Preheat barbecue with all burners on high. Turn off center burner and lower outside burners to medium-low heat. Place generous 1/2 cup hickory chips in each of 2 broiler pans. Set pans over 2 lit burners. Place empty broiler pan over unlit burner. Position grill at least 6 inches above burners.

Remove turkey from brine; discard brine. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Place orange wedges in main cavity. Mix olive oil and sesame oil in small bowl. Brush over turkey. Arrange breast side up on grill, centering above empty broiler pan. Cover; cook until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 160øF, adding 1 cup hickory chips (and 6 briquettes if using charcoal barbecue) to barbecue every 30 minutes, about 3 hours.

For glaze: Bring all ingredients to simmer in heavy medium saucepan.

Brush glaze over turkey; cover and cook until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180øF, covering any dark areas of turkey with foil, about 1 hour longer. Transfer turkey to platter. Tent with foil and let stand 30 minutes.