Chef Juan Shares His Thanksgiving Turkey and Classic Pecan Pie Recipes

Chef Juan shares his tips for how to season, cook, and present a deliciously moist turkey that will thrill your family and guests! 

CHEF JUAN’S FOOL PROOF HONEY ROASTED TURKEY RECIPE

Ingredients for the brine

½         cup table salt

½         cup sugar

3          quarts water

1          15-pound turkey (Serves 10 to 12 persons)

Tea Seasonings

3          tablespoon fresh sage, minced

½         tablespoon whole peppercorns

¾         tablespoon celery seed, ground

2          tablespoon fresh thyme, minced

1          tablespoon bay leaf, ground

1          tablespoon onion, granulated

1          tablespoon garlic, granulated

½         tablespoon whole allspice berries, cracked

1 ½      tablespoon kosher salt

½         cup honey

2          cup of chicken stock

½         cup vegetable oil

Rub Seasonings

1          tablespoon sage, ground

½         tablespoon pepper, ground

¾         tablespoon celery seed, ground

2          tablespoon fresh thyme, minced

1          tablespoon onion, granulated

1          tablespoon garlic, granulated

½         tablespoon allspice, ground

1½      tablespoons kosher salt

¼         cup vegetable oil

Directions

To make the “Tea” bring the chicken stock to a boil.  Add the sage, peppercorns, celery seed, thyme, bay leaf, granulated onion, granulated garlic, allspice berries,

to the hot liquid and return to a boil.  After twenty minutes remove from the heat and steep until cool. 

Strain the tea through a fine tea strainer and then coffee filter.  Stir in the honey until it is dissolved.  Dispose of the solids and place the liquid in the refrigerator until chilled.

To brine the bird dissolve the salt and sugar in a large plastic container of cool water.  Soak the thoroughly cleaned and plucked turkey in salted water in refrigerator for a minimum of one hour but no more that eight hours.  Remove the bird, rinse, and place on a wire rack. Pat dry.

With a “flavor injector” (a large syringe device) liberally inject the tea mixture deep into the breast, thighs, legs, and wings. Let the turkey rest for ten to fifteen minutes to allow the tea to be absorbed into the flesh.

Combine all ingredients for the rub coating in a bowl and liberally rub the skin of the turkey.  Be sure to thoroughly coat the inside of the cavity.  Truss the breast and legs and tuck the wings underneath the bird.

Place the turkey, breast down on a metal rack in a roasting pan to allow air to circulate completely. This allows the bird to cook evenly and the breast to remain juicy.

Put turkey into a pre heated oven set to 375 degrees.  Cook at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. 

To finish, flip the bird breast side up. Pat dry with paper towels and give the turkey a coating of spray shortening to ensure an even browning.  Reduce heat to 325 degrees farhenheit and roast another 45 minutes or until the color is golden brown.  

Check for doneness with a thermometer.  The turkey is done when the temperature is 175 degrees farhenheit in the thigh and 160 degrees farhenheit in the breast.

Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest about 15 to 20 minutes to reabsorb the juices.

Serves 10 to 12 persons.

CHEF JUAN’S TURKEY CARVING TECHNIQUE

Chef Juan Montier assures us that it is all about technique! For step-by-step instructions for the Chef Juan turkey carving technique, follow Chef Juan’s steps below.

STEP 1

·      Carefully cut through just the skin at the crest of the bird’s keel bone

·      Gently loosen the skin with your fingers.  Take your time and do not tear the skin.

STEP 2

·      Separate the skin from the meat all the way to the bottom of the breast and from front to back just above the leg.

STEP 3

·      Peel the skin back to reveal the entire breast

·      Slice down the keel bone until you reach the rib cage

·      Continue to slice following along the ribs

·      Cut under the breast perpendicular to the ribs

·      Cut along the wishbone to free the whole breast

·      Remove the breast

STEP 4

·      Place breast on cutting board and slice into half inch pieces

·      Insert a bamboo skewer through the center of each slice

·      Trim the excess skewer and return the breast to the bird

·      Gently bring up the skin flap to cover the breast and secure with toothpicks

·      Repeat Steps 1 - 4 for the second breast

CHEF JUAN’S CLASSIC PECAN PIE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS - CRUST

1½ cups All-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into ½” pieces

3 tablespoons vegetable shortening, chilled and cut into ½” pieces

¾ teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

4 tablespoons ice water or vodka

1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten

INGREDIENTS - FILLING

2½ cups pecan halves, blanched and toasted, coarsely chopped

70 pecan halves, blanched and toasted

¾ cup heavy whipping cream

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold

1 cup maple syrup

1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

½ cup light corn syrup

3 tablespoons dark molasses

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 large whole egg, room temperature

6 egg yolks, room temperature

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons of bourbon

¼ teaspoon pure almond extract

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

½ teaspoon of fresh orange zest

DIRECTIONS - CRUST

Preheat convection oven to 400°F with the rack on the lowest position in the oven.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, butter, and shortening. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-sized) lumps of butter. Then transfer to a large bowl.

In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, salt, and 4 tablespoons ice water. Using a fork, gradually stir the ice-water mixture into the flour mixture—the dough will be in rough, rather stiff clumps. If there is unincorporated flour in the bottom of the bowl, drizzle in more ice water, ½ tablespoon at a time, and use the fork to gently incorporate it. Do not overwork the dough, or the pastry will be tough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, gather into a ball, and flatten into a roughly 1” thin disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 12-inch round then transfer to a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Trim the edge, leaving a ½” overhang, then fold the overhang under and crimp the edge decoratively. Cool completely.

DIRECTIONS - FILLING

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees.

Heat sugar, maple syrup, corn syrup, molasses and cream, in saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes.

Whisk butter and salt into syrup mixture until combined. Whisk in eggs until incorporated.

Scatter pecans in pie shell. Brush the entire pastry surface with one egg yolk lightly beaten with 2 tablespoons of water. Carefully pour filling over.

Place pie in hot oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake until filling is set and center jiggles slightly when pie is gently shaken, 45 to 60 minutes.

Cool pie on rack for 1 hour, then refrigerate until set, about 3 hours and up to 1 day.

Just before serving, cut pie into slices then warm the whole pie in a 325°F oven until just heated through, about 8 minutes. Serve slices topped with dollops of coffee whipped cream.