This recipe from Gourmet magazine and Epicurious.com makes the most of the flavors and cooking methods of the Southwest.

The salsa can be served warm or at room temperature. If you are pressed for time, skip the brine and simply season the bird with salt, then cook as directed. Cooking times will vary based on the weather and type of grill.

This turkey should not be stuffed, as the cooking method makes it difficult to ensure the stuffing reaches a safe temperature. Try to maintain a temperature of 325 F to 400 F in the grill.

* Start to finish: 4 hours prep and roasting, plus 10 hours brining. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

* What you'll need:

For the brining:

8 quarts cold water

2 cups coarse salt

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

12- to 14-pound turkey, rinsed inside and out

For the salsa:

6 fresh green Anaheim chilies (about 3/4 pound)

3/4 pound fresh tomatillos or 11/4 cups drained canned tomatillos (about half a 28-ounce can)

1 cup chicken broth

2 garlic cloves

1 cup packed fresh cilantro sprigs

Juice of half a lemon

Salt, to taste

For the roasting:

1 tablespoon chili powder

* How to do it:

To brine the turkey, in a container large enough to hold the turkey and 8 quarts of water (a 5-gallon bucket lined with a plastic bag works well) combine the water, salt and brown sugar. Add the turkey and soak, covered and refrigerated, for 10 hours.

While the turkey brines, make the salsa. Heat the oven to broil.

Arrange the chiles on the rack of a broiler pan. Broil 2 inches from the heat, turning frequently, until the skins are blistered and charred, about 8 to 12 minutes. Alternatively, the chiles also can be charred over gas burners for about 3 to 6 minutes.

Transfer the chiles to a bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then let stand until cool enough to handle. Wearing rubber gloves, peel chiles and discard the skins. Cut off the tops of the chiles, then scoop out and discard the seeds and ribs.

Remove husks from the fresh tomatillos. Rinse the tomatillos under warm water.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the tomatillos, broth and garlic.

Simmer until the tomatillos are tender, about 10 minutes if using fresh tomatillos and 5 minutes if using canned.

Then add the chiles to the tomatillo mixture.

Cool the salsa slightly, then transfer to a blender and pulse until coarsely chopped.

(The salsa may be made up to this point 2 days ahead and cooled before being covered and chilled. Bring the salsa to room temperature or reheat before proceeding.)

Just before serving, in a blender combine the salsa, cilantro and lemon juice. Pulse until the cilantro is finely chopped. Season with salt.

To roast the turkey, remove it from the brine and pat dry inside and out. Fold the neck skin under the body and fasten with a small skewer. If desired, secure wings to body with small skewers.

Set an oiled metal rack in a roasting pan that will fit in your grill with the cover down.

Place the turkey on the rack in the pan, then sprinkle it with chili powder. Use kitchen twine to loosely tie together the drumsticks.

(The turkey may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.)

Preheat a gas grill. If using a charcoal grill, open the vents in the lid and bottom of the grill and divide 50 briquettes on opposite sides of bottom, leaving the middle clear. Position a grill rack with wider openings over briquettes and light the briquettes. They will be ready for cooking as soon as they are lightly coated with gray ash, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Place the roasting pan with the turkey on the grill and close the grill cover. Turn all gas settings to low. Roast the turkey, basting it with pan juices and rotating the pan 180 degrees every hour, for 3 hours. If using a charcoal grill, add 10 briquettes to each mound of coals every hour to maintain even temperature.

After 3 hours, insert an instant-read thermometer in the fleshy part of an inner thigh. The turkey is done when it reaches 175 F. Transfer the turkey to a heated platter and discard the twine. Loosely cover turkey with foil and let stand 20 minutes before carving.

Garnish turkey with chiles, garlic and tomatillos, then serve with salsa verde.

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