Salt-Roasting Your Turkey This Thanksgiving Will Be A Game Changer
Thanksgiving is nigh and you're probably wondering what special twist to add to your dinner table. Don't look too far, try salt-roasting the turkey! Turkey is the traditional centerpiece of any thanksgiving meal, but you don't have to stick to vintage recipes when preparing yours. Read on for everything you need to know about salt-roasting — thank us later!
Thanksgiving signals the beginning of joyous festivities as the year comes to a final close, making it a special period to cherish with your loved ones. If you're tasked with preparing the thanksgiving meal this year, switch things up by salt-roasting the turkey.
Salt-roasting your turkey — and basically any meat or fish — produces a moist dish with tons of flavors so you can rest assured that the results will be loved by every person at the dinner table.
So, what is salt-roasting?
Salt-roasting is most commonly used to bake whole fish, because they tend to be lean and dry out in the oven. According to professional chefs, a salt crust, which is typically a combination of coarse salt and egg whites or water, coats the fish in a nearly airtight crust, trapping moisture in the flesh and adding plenty of seasoning.
This cooking method can also be applied to turkey and chicken for a juicy and well-seasoned meal.The salt crust works as both a tool and an ingredient for roasting your Thanksgiving turkey.
For optimum results, professionals recommend coating the turkey in the salt mixture for 24-48 hours before taking it out of the fridge to cook. As for the actual cooking portion, you can use the "butterflied turkey breast" method:
- Place the turkey inside a salt-filled cast iron pan
- Cover it with the salt crust mixture to make a mound
- Roast for about an hour and a half
- After cooking, let the bird rest for 15 minutes before carving.
While the coarse salt-and-egg white combination is locking in moisture for moist results during cooking, it also brines the bird creating a primary layer of taste before you add other seasonings.
Furthermore, salt-roasting offers the bonus benefit of keeping the turkey inside warm for up to 30 minutes. That means you'll have one less dish to rush through the oven before serving.
In other words, you can do no wrong by salt-roasting your turkey! Your guests will especially enjoy the aesthetic sight of the domed turkey — you could even make them break into its crust to reach the turkey.
That's a gathering they won't forget anytime soon!
