Barbecue Spice-Brined Grilled Turkey

Serves: 4

Estell Schumm

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

47

Spice

54

Sweetness

50

Sourness

39

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.3

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tbsp

Ground Cumin

1 cup

Kosher Salt

Directions:

1

Mix paprika, savory, cumin, mustard powder, cayenne, and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a small bowl

2

Transfer 3 Tbsp

3

Spice mixture to a medium bowl; mix in salt and remaining 3 Tbsp

4

Brown sugar

5

Set remaining mixture aside for the next day

6

Cover turkey with dry brine, packing on until you've used it all

7

Chill on a rimmed baking sheet uncovered 8–12 hours

8

Thoroughly rinse turkey to remove brine; pat dry

9

Rub with reserved spice mixture and let sit 2 hours to bring to room temperature

10

Prepare grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off) and lightly oil grates

11

If using wood chips: Scatter over coals, if using a charcoal grill; place in a disposable foil pan and set over lit burner, if using a gas grill

12

Place turkey, skin side up, over indirect heat, breast halves facing each other, with legs closest to direct heat

13

Place oven thermometer in center of indirect heat zone; cover

14

Grill 20 minutes, then rotate halves so neck end is closest to coals

15

Check temperature inside grill; thermometer should register 325ºF (open or close vents as needed)

16

Continue to grill turkey, checking for doneness after 20 minutes, then again every 10 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast registers 150ºF, about 1 hour total

17

If desired, carefully move turkey over direct heat and turn skin side down

18

Grill to lightly char skin, about 2 minutes

19

Transfer to a platter and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving

20

Mix paprika, savory, cumin, mustard powder, cayenne, and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a small bowl

21

Transfer 3 Tbsp

22

Spice mixture to a medium bowl; mix in salt and remaining 3 Tbsp

23

Brown sugar

24

Set remaining mixture aside for the next day

25

Cover turkey with dry brine, packing on until you've used it all

26

Chill on a rimmed baking sheet uncovered 8–12 hours

27

Thoroughly rinse turkey to remove brine; pat dry

28

Rub with reserved spice mixture and let sit 2 hours to bring to room temperature

29

Prepare grill for medium-high, indirect heat (for a charcoal grill, bank coals on one side of grill; for a gas grill, leave one or two burners off) and lightly oil grates

30

If using wood chips: Scatter over coals, if using a charcoal grill; place in a disposable foil pan and set over lit burner, if using a gas grill

31

Place turkey, skin side up, over indirect heat, breast halves facing each other, with legs closest to direct heat

32

Place oven thermometer in center of indirect heat zone; cover

33

Grill 20 minutes, then rotate halves so neck end is closest to coals

34

Check temperature inside grill; thermometer should register 325ºF (open or close vents as needed)

35

Continue to grill turkey, checking for doneness after 20 minutes, then again every 10 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast registers 150ºF, about 1 hour total

36

If desired, carefully move turkey over direct heat and turn skin side down

37

Grill to lightly char skin, about 2 minutes

38

Transfer to a platter and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving