Bacon-Wrapped Turkey: The Sinful Delight for Thanksgiving 2021

LifestyleNovember 10, 2021

As the auspicious day of Thanksgiving nears, you might be thinking of celebrating it the traditional way of inviting family and friends for dinner and roasting a whole turkey. But for the quirky, adventurous you, aren’t these the most boring things that you’ve done in your life? Plus, repeating the same dishes every year squeezes out the excitement from any festival, won’t you agree?

Claudio Schwarz/Unsplash | Thanksgiving traditionally calls to invite friends and family for a scrumptious turkey dinner. But of course, everyone needs a change once in a while

So, this Thanksgiving, skip the whole bird! Go for the breast and flabbergast your guests with the scrumptious Bacon-wrapped Turkey.

Why does this new recipe outshine the old one?

Apart from the factors that you’re a minimalist who wants to create an appetizing moist turkey with a quirk, or perhaps your heart is sinfully inclined towards bacon, this new recipe outshines the traditional one in some other ways as well.

4 reasons a bacon-wrapped turkey is worth it:

Adds a rich flavor
It keeps the turkey moist
Brining, salting and basting aren’t required.
It creates a crispy skin, which without a doubt is gorgeous!

Wrapping the turkey in bacon, therefore, isn’t just a cool trick. So, even if it’s a demanding task, you’d surely outperform for your close ones, wouldn’t you?

Max Delsid/Unsplash | This recipe is better than the traditional one since it’s easier and adds a richer flavor to the dish

Ingredients to look out for

Deboned skinless turkey breast – 2lb
Thick-sliced applewood smoked bacon strips – approx 20-24
Sugar – 1/2 cup
Kosher salt – 1 cup
Crushed and dried Rosemary – 1 tsp
Black pepper – 1/2 tsp
Rubbed Sage – 1 tsp
A sliced lemon
A gartered onion
Dried Thyme – 2 tsp
Softened butter – 1/4 cup
Peeled, smashed garlic cloves – 2
Large Sage leaves – 8
Thyme sprigs – 5

And here’s the Recipe

#1 – For the bacon butter

Making this bacon butter is a crucial step since it gives the turkey that extra kick and seasons and holds it in place. Garlic cloves and herbs are to be finely minced in a food processor. Thereafter, both butter and bacon are to be added. This can even be done and preserved weeks in advance. But before slathering on the meat, don’t forget to bring the concoction to room temperature.

#3 – Preparing the turkey

In 1 gallon of water, combine together sugar, black pepper, salt, lemon, thyme, and garlic, and stir until the salt and sugar dissolve. Thereafter, take the bacon butter and coat it all around the turkey breast. Finally, add it with the mixture and refrigerate for 24 hours.

#4 – Cooking the turkey

The oven is to be preheated to 350°F. The turkey is to be removed from the brine and patted dry with paper towels. Then, the bacon is to be woven into a lattice on a large baking sheet. The breast is to be moved to a large baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, sage leaves are to be placed all over it, and in the end, the bacon is to be folded under the breast.

Jonathan Cooper/Unsplash | Once you’ve followed all the preparatory steps, roast the breast until it reaches a temperature of 165°F

#5 – The culmination

Finish the last step by roasting the breast until a cooking thermometer records its temperature to be 165°F. Subsequently, the sheet is to be removed from the oven, and the turkey is to be tented in foil for 20 to 30 minutes.

Post this, voila, your much-awaited bacon-wrapped turkey is ready to serve!

Now that you’re familiar with this delectable delight, what are you waiting for? Cook it up and surprise your family with your creativity this Thanksgiving!