Smoked Garlic and Orange Turkey

SJ Taylor's Note:

Excellent dish for Thanksgiving. Smoking the Turkey gives it a wonderful flavor and frees up the oven for other dishes. Serves 10 with plenty of leftovers. Serve with Recipe #77817 and mashed potatoes.

• Total Time: 5 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 5 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 1 (12 -14 lb) whole turkey, giblets removed, rinsed and patted dry
• 12 wood chunks (orange or hickory)
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 oranges, scrubbed, additional oranges may be used for garnish
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 bunch fresh sage
• 3 heads garlic, cut crosswise in half
• 1 (6 ounce) package garlic & herb spreadable cheese

Directions:

1. At least 1 hour before cooking, soak wood chunks in enough water to cover.
2. Preheat coals.
3. Rub the turkey cavity with salt.
4. Cut oranges into 2-inch chunks.
5. Place the cut oranges, sage and garlic in the cavity.
6. Loosen the breast skin and spread the cheese spread underneath.
7. Tuck the wings under the back and tie legs together.
8. Rub the turkey with oil, juice from an orange, chopped sage, salt and pepper.
9. In a smoker, arrange preheated coals, half of the drained wood chunks and the water pan according to the manufacturer's directions.
10. Add water and orange juice to water pan.
11. Cover and smoke for 5 – 6 hours until thermometer registers 180°F when inserted in the breast.
12. Throughout, add more coals, wood chunks, and water/juice as needed.
13. Remove turkey to platter.
14. Cover with foil to keep warm.
15. Rest at least 5 minutes prior to carving.
16. Reserve any drippings for Orange Turkey Gravy with Sage.

Reviews

[Lvs2Cook]

All I can say is WOW!!! I made the recipe exactly as posted and the meat was so tender and flavorful. We used chunks of hickory in the smoker and I added some orange slices to the water pan. The smell was incredible. Thank you so much for posting ~ this is a definate keeper!