Pear-Thyme Brined Turkey - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Servings: 8

Lunch

This Pear-Thyme Brined Turkey is a PCOS-friendly recipe.

Nutrition per Serving

0 Calories

0g Protein

0g Carbs

0g Fat

Recipe by Marian Cooper Cairns and Mary Allen Perry Be sure to choose a fresh, unbrined turkey for this recipe. Many varieties are injected with a salt solution prior to packaging and will make this dish too salty. Reserve a couple of thyme springs to us

Ingredients

8 c. pear nectar
1 small bunch fresh thyme
4 large fresh sage sprigs
3 fresh bay leaves
3/4 c. kosher salt
1/2 c. dark brown sugar
2 tbsp. coarsely ground black peppercorns
6 clove garlic
1 fresh whole turkey
2 turkey-size oven bags
8 c. ice
3 sweet onions
2 pears
Kitchen string
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. Freshly ground pepper
3 c. less-sodium chicken broth
Thyme-Pear Gravy

Instructions

Combine pear nectar, half of thyme sprigs, and next 6 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, 5 minutes or until sugar and salt dissolve. Cool completely.
Remove giblets and neck from turkey and discard. Place a turkey-size oven bag inside a second bag to form a double thickness. Place bags in a large stockpot. Place turkey, breast side down, inside inner bag. Add pear mixture and ice. Secure and close bags. Chill 18 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Remove turkey from bags, discarding brine, and drain well; pat dry with paper towels. Arrange onions and remaining half of thyme sprigs in a large roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, on a lightly greased roasting rack in pan. Place pears inside cavity. Tie ends of legs together with kitchen string; tuck wingtips under. Brush entire turkey with melted butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour broth into roasting pan.
Bake at 325 degrees F for 3 hours and 15 minutes to 4 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion of thigh registers 165 degrees F, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices. Shield with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning in spots, if necessary. Remove from oven, and let stand 30 minutes.
Transfer turkey to a serving platter. Pour reserved drippings through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl to equal 1 1/2 cups, discarding solids. Prepare Thyme-Pear Gravy, and serve with turkey.

You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?

One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.

Take the 60-Second Quiz Tell us your PCOS type, preferences, and goals

Get Your 7-Day Meal Plan Personalized meals, grocery list, and prep schedule

Stop Guessing Every Day Know exactly what to eat, with recipes like this one built in

Build My Meal Plan

Free. Personalized. No signup required to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pear-Thyme Brined Turkey good for PCOS?

Yes, this Pear-Thyme Brined Turkey recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly., it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health.

Can I eat this for Lunch with PCOS?

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Lunch. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

How do I fit this recipe into a PCOS meal plan?

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 8 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

Comments

Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Lunch

Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.

PCOS Friendly Garlic Butter Naan Bread PCOS Friendly Piadina Romagnola Recipe PCOS-Friendly Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread) PCOS-Friendly Pão Alentejano (Portuguese Country Bread) PCOS-Friendly Parotta (Indian Layered Flatbread) PCOS-Friendly Pan de Bono (Colombian Cheese Bread)

Browse All Lunch Recipes