45-Minute Roast Turkey

Ingredients

• 1 8- to 12-pound turkey
• 10 garlic cloves, peeled and lightly crushed, more to taste
• 1 branch fresh tarragon or thyme separated into sprigs, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or tarragon
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil or butter
• Salt and pepper to taste

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (10 servings)

    717 calories; 32 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 13 grams monounsaturated fat; 7 grams polyunsaturated fat; 1 gram carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 98 grams protein; 326 milligrams cholesterol; 881 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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10 servings

Preparation

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put turkey on a stable cutting board breast side down and cut out backbone. Turn turkey over, and press on it to flatten. Put it, breast side up, in a roasting pan. Wings should partly cover breasts, and legs should protrude a bit.
2. Tuck garlic and tarragon under the bird and in the nooks of the wings and legs. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
3. Roast for 20 minutes, undisturbed. Turkey should be browning. Remove from oven, baste with pan juices, and return to oven. Reduce heat to 400 degrees (if turkey browns too quickly, reduce temperature to 350 degrees).
4. Begin to check turkey’s temperature about 15 minutes later (10 minutes if bird is on the small side). It is done when thigh meat registers 165 degrees on an instant-read meat thermometer. Check it in a couple of places.
5. Let turkey rest for a few minutes before carving, then serve with garlic cloves and pan juices.

45 minutes