Smoked Lemon Turkey
1 (14- to 16- pound) turkey
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tablespoon thyme
1/2 tablespoon ginger
1/2 tablespoon rosemary
1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper
Very small dash of garlic powder
Take about 3 cups of mesquite or hickory chips and soak in water for
about an hour. When you cook a larger bird such as a turkey you need
to use a water pan circled by hot coals and wood chips. Get your
coals all fired up and spread them in a circle around pan filled
with water and some citrus juice of your choice. The trick to using
wood chips and chunks is to bring the chips to smoke by placing them
on hot coals and when smoke appears move to a cooler spot in the
grill before adding your meat.
Rub the turkey down with some olive oil and lemon then spread spice
mixture over the bird. (I suggest that you do this the night before
you cook, but if time does not permit, then just do it while your
charcoal is getting ready.) Place turkey breast side up on the
center of the grill directly above the pan of water and juice. Place
a meat thermometer in the turkey without touching a bone. Cook to an
internal temp of 175 degrees. It could take up to 6 hours depending
on the size of your bird and the temperature of the coals. |