Orange-Ginger glazed turkey for your Thanksgiving Feast! This easy, flavorful approach to roasted Thanksgiving turkey is sure to please!
The way I see it, removing stressors as much as possible ensures you can enjoy a relaxing holiday.
One of the biggest triggers of stress around the holidays? Food. Particularly the preparation of it.
We all want the food that brings our family and friends together to be absolutely perfect, and as a result, we tend to over-think and over-complicate matters.
So let’s try to alleviate some of the pressure by getting a handle on the main focal point of the Thanksgiving feast: the turkey.
If you’re looking for tips on How to Roast the Perfect Thanksgiving Turkey, read my post from last year! I included all sorts of information in that post to ensure your turkey prep was fool-proof and stress-free.
While you can approach turkey in a myriad of ways, I generally take a very simple approach. The best way of ensuring your Thanksgiving turkey turns out perfectly is first starting with a quality turkey.
The way an animal is raised and harvested makes a significant difference in not only the taste and texture of the final product, but also its nutrient profile. For the past six years, I’ve gone with Diestel Turkey, which is a family owned and operated turkey ranch based out of Sonora, CA. Diestel turkeys are thoughtfully raised on sustainable ranches without antibiotics. They have both all-natural and organic options, and you can most definitely tell a difference in quality based on how well the animals are treated.
I’m not going to sugar-coat my opinion when it comes to animal products – quality matters.
Paying attention to the quality of your food is just as important as making the choice to eat a nourishing diet, because “eating healthy” doesn’t actually mean anything until you know what you’re consuming.
When it comes to turkey (everything from turkey deli meat to bacon to ground turkey or sausage), the only brand I consume is Diestel. This is a pretty powerful statement, but it’s one with years of tried and true experience. It is the cleanest, tastiest, easiest to digest animal protein I’ve ever consumed.
While our food industry is becoming cleaner as a result of consumer demand for better food, a lot of branding that can be misleading.
What may look like a health product may actually be right on par with less-than-stellar options. This goes to show the power of marketing and how some soothing neutral colors and a cheeky font can go a long way.
One of the reasons I love blogging is I can share the products I use and trust that are truly impactful when it comes to health. Products that are honest, real, responsible, and nutritious.
One little known fact about the meat industry is most meat companies are owned by venture capital firms, where all facets of the growing and processing are contracted out. There’s so much removal from the owners to the producers that there are easy breaches in quality.
Yes, even meat products with ranch-style packaging that give off a small business, homey feel, are owned by huge companies that are really only in it to diversify their portfolio.
That comment isn’t to harp on capitalism, but simply to drive home the point that you may think you’re supporting a quality, small family ranch, but you’re really not. One of the reasons I love Diestel products is I am always 100% confident a great deal of thought and care went into it from start to finish.
A beautifully browned turkey with glistening, sweet-tangy glaze is the crowning centerpiece of many holiday feasts. While plain roasted turkey is delicious, an orange honey glaze can bring this classic bird to the next level. The combination of citrus, honey, and herbs makes a simple turkey feel extra festive. In this article, we’ll explore how to make orange honey glazed turkey along with tips for maximizing flavor.
Why Orange and Honey?
Honey and orange make natural partners for glazing a roasted turkey. The honey lends mild sweetness along with richness from its viscosity. Orange juice provides bright acidity to balance the honey’s sugariness. It also infuses tangy citrusy flavors.
When reduced into a syrupy glaze, the honey and orange meld together while concentrating their flavors. Painting this over the roasted turkey allows the meat to absorb all the sweet-tart tastiness The glaze also forms a shiny, candied-like coating as it caramelizes.
Spices like cinnamon, ginger, and clove accentuate the orange and honey flavors. Herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage add woodsy nuance while complementing the turkey meat.
Tips for Juicy, Flavorful Orange Honey Turkey
Here are some tips to ensure your orange honey glazed turkey turns out moist and full of flavor:
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Brine the bird – Soaking the turkey in a saltwater brine solution seasons the meat and helps it retain moisture during roasting.
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Pat turkey dry – Thoroughly drying the skin allows it to crisp up beautifully in the oven.
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Rub an herb mixture – Massaging dried herbs under the skin infuses flavor all the way to the bone.
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Roast at a lower temp – Slow roasting between 275-325°F gives time for the collagen to melt into tender, juicy meat.
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Baste frequently – Brushing the glaze over the turkey every 30 minutes glazes the skin and keeps it from drying out.
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Let rest before carving – Allowing the turkey to rest seals in the juices so they don’t spill out when sliced.
How to Make Orange Honey Glaze
Making an orange honey glaze is simple. Here is one tasty recipe combination:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1⁄2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1⁄2 teaspoon grated orange zest
- Pinch of cloves or ginger
Instructions:
- Combine all glaze ingredients in a small saucepan.
- Simmer over medium heat until thickened and reduced by half, about 15-20 minutes.
- Let cool slightly before brushing over roasted turkey.
- Reserve leftover glaze to continue basting turkey in the oven.
The glaze can be made 1-2 days ahead. Gently reheat before using.
Sample Orange Honey Turkey Recipe
Here is one method for making a complete orange honey glazed turkey:
Ingredients:
- 12-15 lb whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
- For the brine:
- 1 cup kosher salt
- 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
- 2 oranges, juiced
- 2 gallons water
- For the herb rub:
- 1 tbsp dried sage
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- Orange honey glaze (recipe above)
Instructions:
- Make brine by boiling salt, sugar, and orange juice in water. Chill thoroughly.
- Submerge turkey in brine 12-24 hours.
- Remove turkey and pat very dry. Let stand at room temp 30 mins.
- Combine herb rub ingredients. Massage mixture under skin and in cavity.
- Roast turkey at 325°F, basting with glaze every 30 minutes, until 165°F internal temp.
- Rest 30 minutes before slicing. Serve with extra warmed glaze.
The tangy orange and sweet honey make for a festive, memorable turkey the whole family will love!
Frequency of Entities:
orange: 11
honey: 11
turkey: 10
glaze: 8
How to Make Glazed Turkey:
We take a 2-step approach to this turkey:
Step 1: Make a “slurry” by combining olive oil, paprika, garlic powder (<- omit if you’re on a Low-FODMAP diet), and sea salt, and spread this mixture over the turkey. As they say on the British Baking show, BAKE!
Step 2: Prepare the glaze and spread it on the bird 30 minutes before it has finished roasting.
Once the bird has finished roasting, be sure to allow it to rest at least 20 minutes to allow the juices to evenly distribute throughout the bird – this will generate a super tender result!
How to Make Orange Honey Glazed Turkey
FAQ
Is honey turkey a thing?
Does honey glazed turkey have pork in it?
What is honey cured turkey?
How can I get my turkey really brown and crispy?
Can you cook a turkey breast with orange glaze?
The orange glaze adds a little bit of sweetness for flavor and great caramelization. Roasting can cause lean meats, such as turkey breast, to dry out. But if you start with a brine, it will stay juicy even when cooked for hours. A brine is basically a solution of salt and water.
Does honey glaze make a turkey brown?
The caramelization of the sugars in the honey glaze will naturally help make the turkey golden brown in this recipe. But you can also apply a layer of fat (olive oil, canola or vegetable oil, or softened butter) across the skin of the entire turkey prior to baking to roast it up golden and seal in moisture at the same time.
What does orange glazed Turkey taste like?
This orange-glazed turkey is flavored with marmalade, butter, honey, and herbs making a toothsome combination in this delightful holiday main dish.
How do you thicken a Turkey glaze?
One quick, easy way to either thicken or thin a glaze is to apply heat. If the glaze seems too thick, place it in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until it is of a thinner consistency that will be easier to brush onto your turkey.