Turkey is a staple meat for the festive period, but finding the perfect recipe to ensure the juiciest, most flavourful turkey that the family will talk about for years to come is challenging. Or it was. Lee from Smoke and Sear has created this incredible Christmas turkey recipe. See exactly how he does it below. 

• One 4.7kg frozen free range bronze turkey 
• 500g unsalted butter, softened 
• 6 cloves of garlic, minced 
• Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage), finely chopped 
• Salt and pepper to taste 
• Zest of 1 lemon 
• Quality lumpwood charcoal 
• ½ cup melted unsalted butter (for basting) 
• Juice of 1 orange (for basting) 
• 2 tbsp honey (for basting) 

For the brine 

• 1 cup salt 
• ½ cup brown sugar 
• 4 litres water 
• 2 cinnamon sticks 
• 4-star anise 
• 1 orange, sliced 
• 1 lemon, sliced 
• 1 tbsp whole black peppercorns 
• 4 bay leaves 
• 1 tbsp juniper berries 
• A small bunch of fresh thyme and rosemary