Researched an easy to cook recipe for tender, juicy turkey. Perfect for a stress-free Christmas meal.
- 20ml rapeseed oil
- 1 x 5kg good-quality free-range turkey (organically reared, wishbone removed)
- Ask butcher to remove wings, neck, chop into 1 inch pieces
- 40g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 pinches sea salt flakes
- 2 pinches freshly ground white pepper
- 200ml water
- Salt, freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp ground arrowroot dissolved in 1 tbsp cold water
- Roast potatoes, steamed seasonal vegetables
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Remove turkey from fridge, bring to room temperature
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Preheat oven to 230C
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Heat rapeseed oil in a large heavy-based roasting tray
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Add chopped turkey wings, neck, fry for 10 minutes
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Turn pieces over every 2 minutes until evenly browned
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In a small bowl, soften butter, season with salt, freshly ground white pepper
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Using a pastry brush, smear seasoned butter over turkey
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Add remaining butter to roasting tray once chopped wings, neck are browned
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Place turkey on top of wing, neck pieces, roast in oven for 30 minutes
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Remove turkey from oven, baste with cooking juices
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Reduce oven temperature to 160C
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Pour water into roasting tray, return turkey to oven
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Continue to cook for 1 hour, basting the bird with cooking juices every 20 minutes
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Test turkey is cooked with a roasting fork into thickest part of thigh
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If juices run clear, meat is cooked
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If turkey is not fully cooked, return it to oven for 20 minutes, until juices run clear
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Remove turkey from oven, transfer to a large deep-sided tray
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Reserve roasting tray the turkey was cooked in with cooking juices
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Set turkey aside to rest for a minimum 30 minutes
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While turkey is resting, cook roast potatoes, vegetable dishes
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When ready to serve, return roasting tray used to cook turkey to stove top
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Bring cooking juices to a boil over a medium heat, scraping up burned bits
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Collect juices released by turkey, add to gravy
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Season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper
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Reduce heat until gravy is simmering, stir dissolved arrowroot
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Cook until gravy has thickened
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Strain gravy through a fine sieve into a warmed jug to keep warm
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To serve, bring turkey to table, carve into slices
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Serve with roast potatoes, vegetables
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Pour over gravy
Enjoy cooking…