Best 4 Low Sodium Herb Rubbed Turkey Recipes

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If you are looking for a flavorful and healthy turkey recipe, consider cooking a low sodium herb rubbed turkey. This dish is prepared by rubbing the turkey with a flavorful mixture of herbs and spices, then roasting it in the oven. The end result is a moist and flavorful turkey that is perfect for any occasion. And since you control the amount of salt used in the rub, you don't need to worry about over-salting your bird.

Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!

HERB-RUBBED TURKEY



Herb-Rubbed Turkey image

Seasoned for the holidays, this tender bird with its tasty herb rub is perfect for topping the table at your next festive gathering. The recipe's from our Test Kitchen staff.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 3h45m

Yield 12 servings plus leftovers.

Number Of Ingredients 25

1 turkey (10 to 12 pounds)
1 tablespoon each salt, dried thyme and marjoram
2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
1-1/2 teaspoons rubbed sage
3/4 teaspoon celery seed, crushed
3/4 teaspoon pepper
2 medium carrots, cut into pieces
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1 celery rib with leaves, cut into pieces
ROASTED GARLIC GRAVY:
2 whole garlic bulbs
3 teaspoons olive oil, divided
2 celery ribs, cut into pieces
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1 medium carrot, cut into pieces
6-1/4 cups water, divided
10 black peppercorns
2 whole cloves
3 sprigs fresh parsley
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Remove giblets from turkey; set aside. Loosen skin around turkey breast, leg and thigh. Combine seasonings; rub under skin, in body and neck cavities and over skin if desired. Place vegetables in the cavities. Skewer openings; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Lightly coat with cooking spray. Roast, uncovered, at 325° for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 180° (cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly). Baste with pan drippings if desired., Remove papery skin from garlic bulbs (do not peel or separate cloves). Brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap in heavy-duty foil. Roast at 325° for 1 hour or until garlic is soft. Cool for 10-15 minutes. Cut top off heads, leaving root end intact. Squeeze garlic into a bowl. Mash to a smooth paste; set aside., To make broth, cut reserved gizzard and heart into several pieces. (Save liver for another use or discard.) In a Dutch oven, saute neck, gizzard and heart in remaining oil over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Add the vegetables; cook until browned. Gradually add 6 cups of water, stirring to loosen browned bits. Tie peppercorns, cloves and herbs in a cheesecloth bag; add to pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours or until broth is reduced by half. Discard giblets and spice bag. Cool broth; strain, discard vegetables., When turkey is done, cover and let stand for 20 minutes. Pour drippings and any loosen browned bits into a measuring cup; skim fat. Add enough broth to measure 3 cups. In a saucepan, combine the cornstarch and remaining water until smooth. Add broth, salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons roasted garlic. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove and discard turkey skin and vegetables in cavities before carving. Serve with gravy.

Nutrition Facts :

LOW-SODIUM HERB-RUBBED TURKEY



Low-Sodium Herb-Rubbed Turkey image

If you're looking for a new twist on turkey, Ruby Bergschneider's recipe may just be the one. The Jacksonville, Illinois cook prepares a well-blended, salt-free rub that goes under the turkey skin. She removes the skin before eating, resulting in a low-fat entree. This recipe proves that you don't need a lot of salt for good flavor.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 2h30m

Yield 28 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 15

6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons rubbed sage
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 teaspoons pepper
1/2 teaspoon each ground allspice, ginger and mustard
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 turkey-size oven roasting bag
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 small carrots, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 small potato, sliced
1 turkey (14 pounds)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix garlic, herbs and spices until blended. Sprinkle flour into oven bag; shake to coat. Place bag in a roasting pan; add vegetables and sprinkle with 5 teaspoons herb mixture., Pat turkey dry. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub half of the remaining herb mixture under the skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Rub remaining herb mixture over inside of turkey. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Place turkey in bag over vegetables, breast side up; close bag with nylon tie. Cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag; close with tie provided. Bake 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°. , Remove turkey from oven bag to a serving platter; tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes before carving. Strain contents of oven bag into a small saucepan, discarding vegetables; skim fat from cooking juices. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually whisk into cooking juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with turkey.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 198 calories, Fat 6g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 86mg cholesterol, Sodium 80mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

TOM COLICCHIO'S HERB-BUTTER TURKEY



Tom Colicchio's Herb-Butter Turkey image

Basic but brilliant is an apt description for this never-fail Thanksgiving turkey from acclaimed restaurant-owner and Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio. His secret is to use a moisture-ensuring butter that is rubbed under the turkey skin; Tom's is speckled with rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme, but use herbs of your choosing to put a personal stamp on this dynamite bird. With its simple and traditional flavor notes, this turkey can be paired with a variety of stuffings, though we're partial to our New England Sausage, Apple, and Dried Cranberry Stuffing (page 262).

Yield makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 pounds turkey necks and/or wings
2 cups diced onions
1 cup diced peeled carrots
1 cup diced celery
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, or more as needed
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme, plus 15 fresh thyme sprigs
2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon, plus 5 large fresh tarragon sprigs
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary, plus 5 fresh rosemary sprigs
2 teaspoons minced fresh sage, plus 5 fresh sage sprigs
1 (14- to 16-pound) turkey
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup all purpose flour

Steps:

  • Melt the butter in a heavy large deep skillet over high heat. Add the turkey necks and/or wings and sauté until deep brown, about 15 minutes. Add the onions, carrots, and celery and sauté until vegetables are deep brown, about 15 minutes. Add the 6 cups chicken broth and bring to boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Pour the gravy base through a strainer set over a 4-cup measuring cup, pressing on the solids to extract liquid. If necessary, add enough more chicken broth to gravy base to measure 4 cups.
  • Mix 1/2 cup butter and all the minced herbs in a small bowl; season the herb butter with salt and pepper. Transfer 2 generous tablespoons to another small bowl and reserve for gravy; let stand at room temperature.
  • Set a rack at lowest position in the oven and preheat the oven to 425°F. Rinse the turkey inside and out; pat dry. Starting at the neck end, slide your hand between the skin and the breast meat to loosen the skin. Rub 4 tablespoons of herb butter over the breast meat under the skin. Place the turkey on a rack set into a large roasting pan. Sprinkle the main cavity generously with salt and pepper. Place 4 tablespoons of plain butter and all the herb sprigs in the main cavity. Tuck the wing tips under. Tie the legs together loosely. Rub the 2 tablespoons remaining herb butter over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle the turkey generously with salt and pepper.
  • Place the turkey in the oven and roast 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Roast 30 minutes more, then pour 1 cup broth over and add 1 tablespoon plain butter to the roasting pan. Roast 30 minutes more; baste with pan juices, then pour another 1 cup broth over and add another 1 tablespoon butter to pan. Cover the turkey loosely with foil. Roast until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of the thigh registers 175°F, basting with pan juices and adding 1 cup broth and 1 tablespoon butter to pan every 45 minutes, about 1 hour 45 minutes longer. Transfer the turkey to a platter; let stand 30 minutes (internal temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees).
  • Strain the pan juices into a bowl; whisk in the gravy base. Melt the reserved 2 tablespoons herb butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat; add the flour and whisk constantly until the roux is golden brown, about 6 minutes. Gradually add the pan juice-gravy base mixture; increase the heat and whisk constantly until gravy thickens, boils, and is smooth. Reduce the heat to medium; boil gently until gravy is reduced to 4 1/2 cups, whisking often, about 10 minutes. Season the gravy with salt and pepper and serve with the turkey.
  • he GRAVY BASE can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm before using.

HERB TURKEY RUB



Herb Turkey Rub image

This rub can be used on fish, chicken, pork loin, and turkey

Provided by Vivian Herren

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 20m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
4 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
4 teaspoons minced onion
4 teaspoons minced garlic
¼ cup white wine Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup olive oil

Steps:

  • In a blender or food processor, mix rosemary, thyme, onion, garlic, white wine Worcestershire sauce, coarse salt, pepper, and olive oil. Pulse until well blended. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator at least 10 minutes before rubbing under turkey skin or injecting into meat as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 42.4 calories, Carbohydrate 1.6 g, Fat 4.5 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 0.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 370.4 mg, Sugar 1.1 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right turkey: Select a turkey that is fresh or thawed, and not frozen. A fresh turkey will have a pinkish hue to its skin, while a thawed turkey will have a more reddish-brown color. Look for a turkey that is plump and has a moist appearance.
  • Prepare the turkey properly: Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. Remove any giblets or neck from the turkey cavity. Season the turkey inside and out with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs.
  • Use a low-sodium herb rub: The herb rub in this recipe is made with a blend of rosemary, thyme, sage, and garlic. You can use any combination of herbs that you like, but be sure to use a low-sodium rub to keep the turkey healthy.
  • Roast the turkey at a low temperature: This will help to prevent the turkey from drying out. Roast the turkey at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-4 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let the turkey rest before carving: Once the turkey is cooked, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. This will help the juices to redistribute throughout the turkey, making it more moist and flavorful.

Conclusion:

This low-sodium herb-rubbed turkey is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The herb rub adds a flavorful crust to the turkey, while the moist meat is sure to please everyone at the table. If you're looking for a healthier way to enjoy turkey, this recipe is a great option.

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