Barbeque Turkey Legs for Thanksgiving

Still need an idea for a Thanksgiving Day entrée? At Outdoor Impressions, we’re all about providing you with everything you need to improve you outdoor cooking and entertaining experience:

Check out this awesome recipe below.

Barbeque Turkey Legs

Servings: 8
Course: Entrees

Original post: http://kalamazoogourmet.com/lifestyle/recipes/barbecued-turkey-legs/

These are way better than the usual fare from the fair. Smoking the legs for 4 hours helps melt the connective tissue for drumsticks as tender as they are flavorful. Brining the legs for 6 hours beforehand helps keep them moist.

See the timing tips at the end of the recipe for bringing grilled sides together with the legs for your meal.

Ingredients

For the Brine:

1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons pickling spice blend
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 gallon water
8 turkey drumsticks
For the Rub:

1/3 cup Not-So-Basic Barbecue Rub
2/3 cup light brown sugar
Apple wood chips (half of them soaked for about an hour, half of them dry)

Instructions

To brine the legs, combine the salt, sugar, spices and pepper flakes in a medium saucepan with 2 cups of the water. Bring to a boil and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into the brining container and add the remaining water. Chill the brine before adding the turkey legs.

Brine the turkey for 6 to 8 hours, keeping refrigerated the whole time.

Discard the brine and use paper towels to dry off the surface of the legs. Place the legs on a cooking sheet.

Combine the sugar and Not-So-Basic Barbecue Rub, and thoroughly coat the turkey. Use your hands to press the rub into the surface. Place the rubbed turkey back into the refrigerator for 60 to 90 minutes.

Prepare a grill or smoker for smoking at 225ºF for 4 hours. On a gas grill, use indirect cooking with foil smoking envelopes (see note below). Prepare several envelopes to swap out every 30 to 45 minutes.

Smoke the legs for 4 hours. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read meat thermometer at the end of the cooking time to confirm the turkey has exceeded 165ºF. Enjoy!

Timing Note: Because the setup for smoking and grilling are so different, you may wish to transfer the legs to a 225ºF oven for the final hour. The smoke infused during the first 3 hours will provide more than enough flavor, and this will free up your grill to prepare other dishes.

Gas Grill Smoking Note: To use smoking envelopes with a gas grill, lay out a large sheet of aluminum foil. Place a layer of dry wood chips on the foil and top that with a layer of wet wood chips. Fold over and seal the foil and then puncture the top 2 or 3 times with a dinner fork.

Start the packet smoking by placing it on an outdoor cooktop at high heat. Once the smoke is strong, but before the wood chips ignite, remove it from the cooktop and transfer it to the inside of the grill. Replenish the grill with a new envelope as needed.

A Few (Cheap) Ways to Upgrade Your Outdoor Space

1. Refresh your patio with pavers. 

An awesome alternative to a standard poured patio are concrete pavers. They add style and character to your backyard and are easy to repair or replace. If a paver is cracked or has an unsightly blemish, it can be easily flipped over, in some cases, or replaced altogether.

2. Natural Stone

Including a natural element like flagstone in your patio design can really bring an organic feel to your space. Hard architectural lines are broken up by the stones which also provide wide flat surfaces on which to place furniture.

3. Decorate and Furnish

Bring new energy to a space by purchasing and installing new decorations and furniture. Pre-assembled pieces are easy to set up and incur no extra costs. A fresh coat of paver sealer, new LED lighting or new landscaping are some cost-effective ways to reinvigorate your space.

4. Heat Things Up With a Fire Pit or Fire Table

A fire pit, fire table or fireplace, when combined with comfortable furniture, can really turn you backyard into an inviting gathering place. Fire pits can be built in a day, so there won’t be much time away from your yard. Even though build-time is short, fire pits provide long-lasting comfort, function and beauty to your property. They are affordable as well.

5. LED Lighting

Lighting improves not only the look and feel of an outdoor space, but it also increases safety and security after dark. LEDs are more expensive upfront but provide substantial long-term savings since they consume less energy.

6. Water Features

Does your landscape still need a little something extra? A water feature is a unique way to add extra appeal and an awesome focal point to your space. The only limit is your creativity.

Tips on Creating the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen

Nowadays, an outdoor kitchen is more than just a BBQ and cooler of soft drinks. Though many outdoor kitchens hail the grill as the central feature, many kitchens are extensions of the home living space. Why not have the same indoor-conveniences outside? A custom kitchen may include pizza ovens, wet bars, smoker, side burners, smokers, warming drawers and many other other items. One could easily grill any night of the week or have the guys over for poker night.

Form and Function

When considering an outdoor kitchen function is just as important as form, if not more so. What will be the primary function of your space? Are you a master grillsmith? Do you plan to host and entertain? Is there a pool nearby? How about relaxation?

Is there a space to kick your feet up? Figure out your must-haves in each area of your kitchen. Do you want a kitchen that’s fully independent from the main house with it’s own drainage and refrigeration, for example?

Form and Function

Cooking Space

Regarding utility, one of the most important investments will be in appliances. Quality of, not quantity of, appliances is paramount. Think about items you’ll use often and the ones you will use occasionally (e.g. a grill and pizza oven). This kitchen below masters the basics and has a few nice extras. It includes a grill with hood, side burner, kegerator, refrigerator, and storage.

All of our appliances are Underwriters Laboratories approved and plug into ground fault circuit interrupter (GGCI) outlets and are approved for outdoor use. Safety comes first.

Proximity

Many outdoor kitchens typically sit in the backyard near the main residence. This provides easy access to indoor appliances and power. However, consider having a self-contained outdoor kitchen, independent from the rest of the house. Why risk spilling food or beverage on your carpet?

Think about shade, sun and wind as we dream up the perfect place. A covered pergola will help protect against rain, for example.

Keep Your Cover

It’s beneficial to have a covered outdoor space. The occasional summer shower doesn’t have to change your outdoor plans and plus you’ll have shade and shelter from the wind. It’s a great idea to make sure this area is well ventilated as well.

Lighting

An oft forgotten element is lighting. A well-lit kitchen provides for a safe environment as well as other areas where people congregate. Pathways should be well lit. Lounge areas work best with adjustable mood lighting.

Centerpiece

What will be the focal point of the area? Many assume it has to be the grill, however a pizza oven, fire place or fire pit can be the centerpiece. A nearby place to relax should be considered as well. Consider combining a water feature and fire feature into on structure.

Florida has great outdoor weather nearly year round, but winter months can get chilly. Consider a simple way to warm of the place during those Holiday parties or Super Bowl get-together. Portable heaters, fire pits and fireplaces could be a solution.

Pavers

This element has the power to ultimately beautify and add character to your outdoor living space. Like the carpet in a house or even the upholstery in a fine automobile, pavers help to tie the space together.

Here are some questions to consider: Are you more modern or do you like traditional? What textures and patterns do you like? How can we creatively combine different materials to create a unique look?

Consider a beautiful material like travertine, flagstone or one of our various thick paver solutions. Effective use can also help draw distinctions between different areas in a larger space (e.g. a lounge area from dining area).