RECIPES

Best Turkey Brine recipe

Here is the best Turkey Brine recipe that is easy and adds flavor to any bird headed for the oven or smoker.

It is that time of the year to dust off that turkey baster as Thanksgiving is around the corner.   Here is an easy Turkey brine recipe that has been handed down for generations in my family and will be in handed down in your family as well after trying this simply yet delicious brine recipe that is sure to wow! In just five easy steps you also can make your own perfect Thanksgiving Turkey brine.


Easy Turkey Brine

Prep time:  15 minutes

Cook time:  10 minutes

Brining time: 12 to 36 hours

Yield: 1 Turkey

Ingredients

2 gallons water

¼ cup Kosher salt

3 bulbs garlic

A bunch fresh basil leaves

1 cup bay fresh Bay leaves

1 cup fresh cranberries

¼ Cup whole Allspice berries

5 dried Mexican Guajillo peppers

2 Orange or tangerine peels

Method

Step 1

In a large pot combine the ingredients and bring your pot to a boil for 10 minutes.  Make sure to stir the pot to dissolve the salt crystals and thoroughly mix the fresh herbs and the brine of the salt together.

Step 2

The Turkey brine is ready when the temperature has cooled to room temperature. To be sure it is ready stick your thermometer in and check the temperature. Once the brine has cooled then strain the steeped Turkey briny ingredients into a cheese cloth leaving only liquid gold in a container that is big enough to hold the turkey and the finished brine.

Step 3

Generally you should marinate your Turkey anywhere from 12 to 36 hours.

(Tip:  The longer your marinate the better the bird will taste 😉 ). While marinating you can work on setting the smoker up and prepping your dry rub. Above all let that bird marinate!

Step 4

After marinating remove your turkey from the brine and rinse with fresh water and be sure to add some dry rub or otherwise the Turkey will be ready on the inside but not as seasoned on the outside. Nevertheless pop that bird in to the oven or on the Smoker.

Step 5

Cook the turkey until golden brown and internal temperatures

have been

re reached  or until that Turkey thermometer has popped right out.

That’s it you have successfully made an easy yet delicious brine in just five easy steps, you are done.



Tips

Tip 1- When selecting a Turkey make sure to get fresh Young Turkey and NOT a ” Ready to roast” Turkey.  A Ready to roast Turkey has brine injected from the factory and is ready to be cooked right out of the packaging or in some cases right in the packaging.  Fresh Turkeys are frozen without any brine added and of course requires you to put your own spin on things.

Tip 2 – Always use food safe containers such as a 5 gallon food grade bucket or a large stainless steel stock pot that are nonreactive.   Pots that are made out of aluminum, copper or cast iron are all reactive. Salt together with the salt is not good the brine.

Tip 3 – Equally as important as the brine is covering the Turkey in foil wrap for the 1st part of cooking the Turkey in the oven. When cooking a Turkey in the oven you want to make sure that the Turkey is covered really well so that it does not dry out while cooking.

Tip 4 – This Turkey Brine recipe works great with chicken as well.


Check out this video of our Jamaican Jerked Turkey on our Instagram page.

Do you want to know to make the perfect smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving?

See how to make the Perfect Smoked Turkey for Thanksgiving

Garlic rosemary Shrimp

Garlic rosemary Shrimp sauced with Jamaican Hot Pepper sauce
Garlic rosemary Shrimp

For those of us who can eat shellfish, the pleasure of eating shrimps is an opportunity to practice our cooking skills, make quick meals at home or just enjoy having them prepared for you. One thing for sure is that this quick and easy recipe will enhance the flavors by kicking up the heat just a notch.   This beautiful shrimp and pasta dish, seasoned with garlic and rosemary,  just got  the perfect taste enhancer,  Hot Jamaican Pepper Sauce.  

Don’t worry, you can control the heat by sprinkling a few drops and toss in a bowl for a minute and  then taste to see if the flavor is enough or if you need just a few more drops to get it just right for your taste buds.  Tip: make sure to stir fry the fresh rosemary and garlic in the butter before adding the shrimp.  Doing so will release the flavors of the garlic and rosemary much better when it comes to the finished product.  Eat, drink and be merry!  

This recipe is quick and easy.

Ingredients
Scotch Bonnet Grill’s 😋Hot pepper sauce 😋
1/2 pound of shrimp 🦐
1/2 tbsp of salt
1tsp of black pepper
5 cloves of garlic
4 Sprigs of rosemary
2 cups of bow tie pasta
A cup of fresh spinach
1/4 cup of shredded carrot 🥕 (optional-for garnish)
2 tbsp of butter
1/4 cup of vegetable oil 🛢

Method
-Heat oil to Medium 🔥 and add butter
-Toss in the rosemary and garlic to Sautee
-Add season shrimp 🦐 sear and Sautee each side until pink and brown
– Add pasta, spinach and🌶️ Pepper sauce 🌶️ -Mix ingredients together generously and cook for 5minutes
Viola! 🎉 It’s a party in your mouth. 🎉

Check out this Tofu recipe with Sweet chili Jerk Sauce

Codfish Fritters

Codfish fritters are enjoyed throughout the African Diaspora and goes by many names such as: “known in Jamaica as Codfish fritters, Saltfish fritters, Stamp and Go” and elsewhere as Bacai, Bacalaitos, Bolinhos de bacalhau. Codfish fritters are enjoyed throughout the Caribbean as a breakfast or late afternoon snack. They come in various sizes from small bite size appetizers to large circular disc the size of a small plate. The small version make awesome appetizers topped with Scotch Bonnet Sauces for a delicious snack that will sure to wow your guest. Try our quick reliable recipe below.

Prep time: 20 Minutes
Cook time: 10 Minutes

• 2 cup(s) all purpose flour
• 1 ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 8 ounce(s) codfish, soaked, de-boned
• 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 1 stalk(s) scallion, chopped
• 1 cup(s) water
• 1 tsp Scotch Bonnet Grill Hot Pepper sauce (optional)
• 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

Fritters method
Note: Codfish may be soaked overnight or boiled for 30 minutes and drain of salt water.
1. In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt and whisk all dry ingredients together
2. Next add the codfish, chopped onion, scallion and Scotch Bonnet Grill Hot Pepper sauce. Mix well.
3. Gradually mix in water to get the batter to a thick consistency.
4. In a large skillet heat vegetable oil to medium heat, drop a tablespoon of batter into hot oil and fry until brown on one side, turn and press flat with the back of your spoon and continue frying until done.
5. Drain well over pot and finish draining on paper towel. Serve hot topped with Either Scotch Bonnet Grill sauces:
“Sweet Jerk Sauce, Sweet Chili Jerk Sauce, Hot Pepper sauce”

Pork Chops with a Twist

Everybody loves a tender pork chop cooked just right. How do you like your Pork chop?  It is very popular to fry up some Chops seasoned with you favorite combination of seasoning.  Personally I prefer my Pork Chop to be purified by real live flames on a grill.  Here is our take on a classic with a new twist.

Prep time- 10
Cook time- 20
Serves- 4

Ingredients
4 bone-in pork chops, 1/2-inch thick, trimmed
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp of olive oil
½ bunch of medium chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp “Insert favorite SBG sauce” For this recipe we used the “Sweet sauce”


Method
Combine the salt and pepper in dry container
Rub the pork chops with the salt and pepper mixture and
Bake at 300 F for 10 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered.
Note: Be sure to place your chops at the bottom of the oven close to the heat source. If using a convection oven then place anywhere is fine.
At the 20 minute mark, remove pork chops and toss in the sauce of your choice of “Hot pepper, Sweet chili Jerk or Sweet Jerk sauce”.
Return to oven for 5 minutes and remove and serve.
Don’t forget to garnish with cilantro.
Bon appétit!

Check out this awesome Turkey Brine recipe that would be great for Pork Chops.

Sweet Chili Tofu bites

Tofu is a great meat alternative for vegans or if you just need a break from eating meat.

To begin with there are a lot of good Tofu recipes out there however none are like ours.  This tofu recipe is quick, easy to follow and oh yeah, delish! 

Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20
Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. box of Fettuccine pasta
  • 2 tbsp. Scotch Bonnet Grill’s Sweet Jerk Sauce
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
  • 14 oz. Super Firm tofu
  • 4 tbsp. Vegetable oil
  • 1/2 Onion medium chopped
  • 1/2 red Bell pepper sliced
  • 1/2 bunch of finely chopped cilantro
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Directions

  1. Cook the fettuccine pasta according to package directions and then drain off the water to keep moist and warm.
  2.  Next lightly pat dry the tofu with paper towels to remove excess liquid. Then cut into 3/4-inch square pieces and season with black pepper and salt.
  3. Heat your large skillet over medium to high heat and add two tablespoons of oil and then fry the tofu until golden brown on all sides, cook for 6 to 8 minutes in total. Next transfer the tofu to a clean plate to rest while the other ingredients are prepared.  Most important make sure to use a clean pan for the next phase of this Tofu recipe. 
  4. Similarly to step 3 above add 2 tablespoons of oil to the clean warm pan and cook sliced onions and garlic for 1 minute. Secondly add 1/2 of a bell pepper sliced thinly cooking for 1 more minute.
  5. At this point add the tofu and fettuccine to the pan while adding 2 tablespoons of Scotch Bonnet Grill’s “Sweet Jerk Sauce”, toss combine and let it simmer for 3 minutes.
  6. What would this dish be without a generous sprinkling of sliced scallions or cilantro. Consequently you can garnish with green sliced scallion or cilantro you can’t go wrong either way. Try this recipe out and let us know what you think in the comments. 

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