Ingredients
- 1 12- to 16-pound turkey, preferably a heritage or pasture raised bird
- ½ cup kosher salt, more if needed
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 10 sprigs fresh thyme
- ½ bunch flat leaf parsley
- 2 small onions, halved
- 2 small apples, cored and halved
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup white wine (optional)
- Nutritional Information
Nutritional analysis per serving (30 servings)
338 calories; 15 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 2 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 46 grams protein; 160 milligrams cholesterol; 1441 milligrams sodium
Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
About a pound a person
Preparation
- Two days before serving, rinse turkey and pat dry. Rub all over with kosher salt, slipping salt under skin where possible and rubbing some into cavities. Use about 1 tablespoon per four pounds of bird.
- Wrap bird in a large plastic bag and place in refrigerator. On second night, turn turkey over. A couple of hours before cooking, remove turkey from bag and pat dry. Place in roasting pan and allow to come to room temperature.
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Sprinkle half the pepper into main cavity of turkey; add thyme, parsley, half the onions and half the apples. Truss legs with kitchen twine. Put remaining apples and onions in neck opening and tuck neck skin under bird.
- Rub butter under breast skin and onto thigh meat. Sprinkle bird with remaining pepper.
- Roast for 30 minutes. Remove turkey from oven, reduce heat to 350 degrees and cover breast of bird and wing tips with foil. Add a cup and a half of water or white wine to bottom of roasting pan and roast bird for another two hours, depending on size; figure 12 minutes a pound for an unstuffed bird. Remove foil in last half-hour so breast browns.
- When turkey has roasted for two hours, begin to test for doneness by inserting a meat thermometer (digital is best) into two places in thigh, making sure not to touch bone. It should be at about 160 degrees.
- When roasting is done, tip turkey so interior juices run back into pan. Remove turkey to a separate baking sheet or serving platter, cover with foil and then a damp kitchen towel and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
- Pour fat and drippings from pan into a measuring cup. Deglaze pan with white wine or broth and pour that into same measuring cup. Fat and drippings can then be used to make gravy.
3 hours
Dining and Cooking