Grilled chicken breast slices served on a plate with fresh spinach leaves and a roasted acorn squash half topped with herbs and seasoning.
Main Kosher Salt Recipes

Salt Brined Turkey with Thyme Roasted Acorn Squash

Brining the turkey ahead of its cooking time lends an intensely flavorful depth to your holiday turkey, which is complemented perfectly by gorgeous and creamy thyme roasted acorn squash. Morton® Kosher Salt is perfect for brining because its flat and flakey crystals dissolve in water and create a crystal clear brine.

Morton® Fine Sea Salt melts beautifully into your thyme scented acorn squash with its delicate texture. Always finish with a sprinkle of Morton® Coarse Sea Salt to bring the most flavor out of your dish.
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Ingredients Instructions

Key Information

Dish Type

Main

Time

Prep: 30 hours

Cook: 2 hours

Difficulty

medium

Serves

10-12 servings

Ingredient List

Ingredients and measurements.

  • 6 quarts water, divided
  • 1 cup Morton Kosher Salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon dried juniper berries
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon whole peppercorns
  • 1 bottle dry white wine
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme
  • 3 sprigs rosemary
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1, 10 to 12-pound turkey

Cooking Instructions

Step-By-Step Cooking Information and Guidance

Step 1

For the brine:  In a large pot, heat 4 quarts water, Morton Kosher Salt and sugar and mix until dissolved. Allow to cool then pour into a large brining bag. Mix in all 2 remaining quarts of water, bay leaves, juniper berries, fennel seeds, peppercorns, wine, thyme, rosemary, lemon, orange, onion, garlic and the uncooked turkey. Refrigerate the turkey in the brine for 24 hours. Remove from brine one hour before cooking, rinse and dry the turkey and set it aside to come to room temperature.

Step 2

For the roast:  Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a rack in a large roasting pan and place 4 cups of water in the bottom. Season turkey with Morton Coarse Sea Salt and pepper. Rub 3 tablespoons of butter over turkey, and place onion, celery and rosemary inside of the turkey.

Step 3

Roast the turkey for 30 minutes then reduce heat to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast the turkey, stopping to baste and check its temperature every 30 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature of

165 degrees Fahrenheit. Total cooking time should take around 3 hours depending on the size of the turkey. Allow turkey to rest for 1 hour before carving.

Grilled chicken breast slices served on a plate with fresh spinach leaves and a roasted acorn squash half topped with herbs and seasoning.
Baked acorn squash halves filled with creamy mixture and garnished with fresh thyme, arranged on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Additional Recipes & Information

For the Squash (side dish)-

  • 5 acorn squash, halved and seeded
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan, divided
  • 1/4 cup turkey stock
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Morton Fine Sea Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Level the bottoms of the squash halves if need be so they sit like bowls on a sheet tray.

In a medium bowl, mix the cream, 1/3 cup Parmesan, stock, honey, Morton Fine Sea Salt and pepper. Pour the cream mixture into each squash half and top with a few sprigs of thyme. Roast squash until tender, about 30 to 35 minutes. Top with the remaining Parmesan and bake until cheese is melted, another 10 minutes or so. Serve immediately.

Morton Products USED IN THIS RECIPE

Our products that bring this dish together
Morton Kosher Salt Flakes packaging, 48 oz (3 lb), featuring the brand logo and a graphic of a girl with an umbrella, highlighting trusted quality since 1848. Ideal for cooking and seasoning.

Kosher Salt Flakes 48 oz

Textured Salt To Enhance The Flavor In Any Dish.   Long enjoyed by chefs for its taste, texture and ease of use, Morton Kosher Salt Flakes is considered a fundamental ingredient that can be used to bring out the natural flavors of a wide variety of dishes. The coarse texture of Morton Kosher Salt makes it easy to grab and sprinkle just the perfect amount, allowing you to easily control the amount of salt you add to all your cooking. The compact flakes perfectly adhere to food for ideal flavor enhancement. Morton Kosher Salt Flakes is Kosher certified for use in preparing kosher meals.

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Morton Salt
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