Honey turkey is a delicious way to prepare turkey for the holidays or any time of year. The honey adds a touch of sweetness that perfectly complements the savory turkey meat. But what exactly goes into making honey turkey? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and preparation process.
Main Ingredients in Honey Turkey
There are just a few main ingredients that go into honey turkey:
- Turkey – This is the star of the dish. Any cut of turkey can be used, but breast meat is quite common for honey turkey.
- Honey – To get that sweet honey flavor, you’ll need to coat or inject the turkey with honey. Clover honey is a popular choice, but orange blossom, wildflower, or your favorite variety will work.
- Herbs and spices – Herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage impart flavor. Spices like garlic, salt, and pepper add seasoning.
- Oil or butter – Adding some oil or butter helps the herbs and spices coat the turkey.
So just a simple list of ingredients is all you need for delicious honey turkey. The preparation process also adds key flavors.
Preparing Honey Turkey
Preparing a whole honey turkey or just breast meat involves a few easy steps:
- Pat the turkey dry and let it come to room temperature. This helps it cook evenly later.
- Coat the turkey in a mix of melted butter or oil, honey, and your favorite herbs and spices. Get under the skin to infuse flavor all over.
- Optionally, inject the turkey meat with a honey herb marinade using an injector. This adds extra moisture and flavor.
- Roast the turkey uncovered at 350°F until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Baste regularly with pan drippings.
- Once cooked, let the turkey rest before carving. The juices will redistribute through the meat.
- Carve the turkey and serve warm with extra honey drizzled over the top if desired.
As you can see, it’s easy to infuse turkey with honey flavor either through a coating or injecting. The roasting process cooks the meat while adding nice browning. Those delicious crusty bits plus the honey, herbs, and spices are what give honey turkey its signature taste.
Different Types of Honey for Turkey
You have options when it comes to which variety of honey to use in your honey turkey recipe. Here are some top choices:
| Honey Variety | Flavor Notes | Works Best With |
|---|---|---|
| Clover | Mild, sweet | Any type of turkey |
| Wildflower | Floral, tangy | White meat turkey |
| Orange blossom | Citrus, ginger | Dark meat turkey |
| Sourwood | Buttery, caramel | Rich turkey gravy |
The light flavor of clover honey works well with any turkey meat. Wildflower honey is nice with white breast meat. Orange blossom honey complements the richer, darker thigh and leg meat. And sourwood honey makes turkey gravy extra luxurious.
Making Your Own Herb Blends
You can buy pre-made poultry seasoning for honey turkey. But making your own unique herb blend is simple. Try thesecombinations:
Mediterranean Spice Blend
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Tex-Mex Spice Rub
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Make a batch of your favorite blend and rub it all over the turkey along with honey before roasting. The flavor combinations are endless.
Should You Brine the Turkey?
Brining is a technique where meat is soaked in a saltwater solution before cooking. This helps keep it very moist and seasoned. It’s optional for honey turkey but can help ensure juicy results, especially with larger birds.
A basic brine is 1 cup kosher salt dissolved per gallon of water. You can add spices, herbs, sugar, or citrus too. Submerge the turkey and refrigerate 6-12 hours before roasting.
Food Safety Tips
When working with raw turkey and cooking it to safe internal temperatures, keep these food safety guidelines in mind:
- Always wash hands, utensils, and surfaces that touch raw turkey to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cook turkey to an internal temp of 165°F as measured in the thickest part of the breast and thigh.
- Refrigerate cooked turkey within 2 hours. Store leftovers for 3-4 days.
- Reheat leftovers to an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
Following safe preparation and cooking methods reduces the risk of foodborne illness. That makes enjoying delicious honey turkey worry-free!
Serving Ideas for Honey Turkey
Honey turkey isn’t just for holiday meals. You can serve it in many delicious ways:
- As a sandwich on crusty bread with avocado, bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato
- In a salad with spinach, nuts, dried cranberries, and a honey mustard dressing
- Diced up in soups, stews, or chilis
- On top of fresh green bean or brussels sprout casseroles
- In wraps with hummus, roasted veggies, and feta cheese
- On flatbread pizza with figs, prosciutto, and arugula
Leftover honey turkey also stores well in the freezer. Portion it into bags to pull out anytime for sandwiches, salads, and more.
Conclusion
Honey turkey is a sweet and savory classic made by coating turkey with a blend of honey, herbs, and spices. The honey adds signature flavor while keeping the turkey incredibly moist and tender. Clover honey is commonly used, but orange blossom, wildflower, and other varieties also pair deliciously. Spice blends like Mediterranean and Tex-Mex seasonings complement the honey nicely.
Brining is an optional step to make the meat even juicier. Other keys are using a thermometer and following food safety guidelines. This ensures the turkey reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Beyond holiday dinners, cooked honey turkey can be used in sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and more. With such simple ingredients, honey turkey delivers incredible taste and versatility.