Southwestern Rubbed Turkey

Southwestern Rubbed Turkey
4 from 1 ratings
Smoked paprika is the key to the turkey rub in this recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving with a twist. It can be purchased in gourmet markets and online. Roasting the bird breast-side down for the first half keeps the breast meat succulent and moist.
Servings
12
servings
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 1/2 pound turkey, giblets removed
Directions
  1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix the paprika, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the water to make a paste. Rub the mixture all over the turkey, particularly under the skin and onto the breast meat.
  3. Place the turkey breast-side down on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Add the remaining water to the pan. Roast for 1 ½ hours.
  4. Remove the turkey from the oven and turn it over; either use silicone oven gloves or cover the bird with foil and use cloth oven mitts to turn it over.
  5. Continue roasting, basting occasionally with pan juices, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 180 degrees, about 1 ½-2 more hours.
  6. If the bird is browning too deeply, tent with foil while it continues to bake. If the pan runs out of juices, add about ½ cup water, scrape up any browned bits, and use this liquid for basting. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before carving.