Maple Cider Brine
Ingredients
- ¾ to 1 cup kosher salt
- ½ cup brown sugar, honey or maple syrup
- 1 gallon liquid (apple cider, vegetable stock, light beer like MGD, or white wine)
- handful of peppercorns, allspice berries or cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
- pinch of cardamom
- good handful or fresh parsley, sage & thyme, bruised or roughly chopped to release flavor
- 1 gallon cold water
How-to
- Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve. Cool to room temperature and chill covered. [Brine can be made 2 days ahead]
- Remove everything from the cavity of the bird. Place bird breast side down (since white meat dries more than dark meat) and head first into the brining bag. Add 1 gallon of iced-water to the bag. Then add brining liquid. Tie bag tightly. Place in large bowl or bucket
- Refrigerate or chill 6-8 hours. Turn once halfway through