Coffee and Bourbon Brined Turkey

I was recently asked by Central Market to share a Thanksgiving recipe with you…just in time for turkey day. Lucky for me, I ADORE Central Market, so of course I agreed!

Bourbon, Coffee, and Turkey. Sounds like a delicious nap waiting to happen, don’t you think?

All good things. Bourbon is so flavorful, soothing, and people put it in their coffee (smart people, anyway) and both bourbon AND coffee SHOULD be a part of your Thanksgiving turkey prepping plans.

I said so.

So, turkey prepping needs to start soon. Wednesday, if you are eating Thursday. That’s because you want to get your turkey in the brine. The brine is not something you really want to taste on it’s own, but trust me, it’s good stuff. It smells rich, it IS rich. And you want the bird soaking in it for at least 8 hours, but 12 to 24 is even better. Let it absorb all of that brine before drying it off and getting him cooked.

Seriously, dry him off. Use a towel. You want the turkey to be dry before going into the oven. If you want some more tips and tricks about roasting a turkey – I just wrote a post about it here. Check it out – it’s full of good info. I’m looking out for you, kids. A turkey is a big deal but I know you can do it.

Now – the rub. Quick and easy. Mix up those ingredients, and rub it on. Softened butter squished up under the turkey skin is essential, then the rub. Rub rub rub. You’ll be surprised at the subtlety of the coffee – it offers a mild flavor, something more of an aroma and earthiness than anything else. It does NOT taste like turkey dipped in coffee. It tastes like turkey heaven.

I picked up everything I need for this rub (and all those veggies stuffed inside it!) at Central Market, and you can, too. The genius part of Central Market is that you can buy only the amount of spice that you need – just measure it out into a little bag and pay just a few cents for each. Yes, they have ALL THE SPICES. Not only that, but they have ALL THE COFFEE. No kidding, ALL. I wish I had counted how many different bean types they offered in the “Grind Your Own” department, but when I have my hands full of 27 different apples (yes, they offer over 30!), I lose the ability to count on my fingers. 50? 70? I just know it is a LOT. So, find a blend that you think you’d like to drink, and I bet you that same blend will be amazing on your turkey.

Bourbon Brine Coffee Rubbed Turkey

Bourbon Brine

Dissolve: 2 gallons water, 1 cup kosher salt, 1 cup brown sugar

Add: 1 Tablespoon Thyme, 1 Tablespoon Rosemary, 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder, 2 oranges, quartered, 1 lemon, quartered, and 1 1/2 cup good bourbon.

Stir together and add turkey to the brine.

Coffee Herb Rub

Combine: 2 Tablespoons onion powder, 2 Tablespoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 Tablespoon thyme, 2 teaspoons rosemary, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and Tablespoons coffee grounds. Use as needed on prepared, uncooked turkey.

More On Central Market

Don’t REALLY want to cook that Thursday Feast? Well, that’s okay. You can still get everything you need and more to throw an incredible dinner party (for 2 or 100!) at Central Market. From salads to meats, vegetables to pastas to desserts and fresh made breads…they have it all. Fully cooked and ready to go! You can even order it all in advance, and just pick it up! Central Market Holiday Hotline offers an alternative for customers who don’t want to tackle Thanksgiving from scratch. Order ready to heat and serve meals, sides, desserts, and more.

I, however, get overwhelmed with the HUGE variety of just EVERYTHING there. The store is vast, but never feels large, because of the way it is divided into smaller sub-stores. The produce section will knock your socks off – sincerely. I just want to photograph the miles of vegetables and fruits they offer. But the meat sections certainly do not disappoint! Fish and stuffed chicken, wagyu beef, octopus, lamb, duck, you name it, they carry it. A chocolate shop, various sundries shop, organics, it’s ALL there.

Ohhh, just a little FYI – Central Market also offers you HELP! A team of experts is on standby, waiting for any questions you may have. Central Market has a team of Foodies, certified wine and cheese experts, executive chefs, and in-house bakers who will make sure you get exactly what you need to make EVERY occasion special! I hope you’ll go check it out!

Disclaimer: As mentioned, this post was sponsored by Central Market. All thoughts and opinions are my own.