Description
Succulent roast turkey brings festive flavors from traditional American holiday cooking. Crisp herbs, golden skin, and rich pan drippings promise a memorable centerpiece with delightful textures you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (14-16 lb / 6.35-7.26 kg) whole turkey
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 head garlic, break into cloves and peel
- 1 tbsp fresh sage, chopped finely
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped finely
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped finely
- A few sprigs each of fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper, or to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 lemon, halved
Instructions
- Preparation Ritual: Liberate turkey from refrigeration, allowing it to luxuriate at ambient temperature for one hour while positioned on a spacious baking sheet.
- Herb Infusion: Craft a robust compound by blending softened butter with sage, thyme, rosemary, garlic, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper into a fragrant mixture.
- Thermal Calibration: Position oven rack in lower third, ignite to a scorching 450°F, creating an ideal roasting environment.
- Cavity Cleansing: Extract giblets and neck, meticulously drain moisture, ensuring turkey’s surface is pristinely dry.
- Seasoning Ceremony: Lavishly coat exterior with salt and pepper, then generously massage herb butter across entire surface, achieving complete coverage.
- Flavor Enhancement: Nestle quartered lemon, herb sprigs, and whole garlic cloves within turkey’s internal chamber, infusing deep aromatic complexity.
- Structural Refinement: Elegantly fold wing tips underneath, truss legs securely with kitchen twine to promote uniform heat distribution.
- Thermal Transformation: Reduce oven temperature to 350°F, roast methodically until thigh’s core reaches 165°F, approximately three hours.
- Protective Maneuver: Should skin darken excessively, gently drape aluminum foil to prevent scorching while maintaining moisture.
- Resting Protocol: After roasting, allow turkey to recuperate undisturbed for 20 minutes, enabling internal juices to redistribute and ensure succulent meat before carving.
Notes
- Bring to Room Temperature: Allow turkey to sit out for one hour before cooking to ensure even roasting and prevent uneven cooking.
- Herb Butter Magic: Generously massage herb compound beneath and over skin for maximum flavor infusion and crispy, golden exterior.
- Moisture Control: Pat turkey completely dry before seasoning to achieve perfectly crisp skin and prevent steaming during roasting.
- Resting is Crucial: Let turkey rest 20 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, guaranteeing moist and tender meat throughout.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg