Best 14 Herb Roast Turkey Recipes

ROAST TURKEY WITH MAPLE HERB BUTTER AND GRAVY

Steps:

• Make turkey:
• Boil apple cider and maple syrup in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat until reduces to 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in half of chopped thyme, half of marjoram and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel. Add butter and whisk until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen shin. Rub 1/2 cup maple butter over breast under skin. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Rub 1/4 cup maple butter over outside of turkey. Reserve remaining maple butter for gravy. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Arrange onion, celery, carrot and reserved turkey nick and giblets around turkey in pan. Sprinkle vegetables with remaining 1 tablespoon thyme and remaining 1 tablespoon marjoram. Pour 2 cups broth into pan.
• Roast turkey 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Cover entire turkey loosely with heavy-duty foil and roast until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F or until juices rum clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 2 hours 25 minutes for unstuffed turkey (2 hours 55 minutes for stuffed turkey). Transfer turkey to platter. Tent turkey with aluminum foil and let stand 30 minutes; reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• Make gravy:
• Stain pan juices into large measuring cup, pressing on solids with back of spoon. Spoon fat from pan juices. Add enough chicken broth to pan juices to measure 3 cups. Transfer liquid to heavy medium saucepan and bring to boil. Mix 3 tablespoons reserved maple butter and flour in small bowl to form smooth paste. Whisk paste into broth mixture. Add chopped fresh thyme and bay leaf. Boil until reduces to sauce consistency, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes. Mix in apple brandy, if desired. Season gravy to taste with salt and pepper.
• Brush turkey with any remaining maple butter and serve with gravy.

HERB-SCENTED ROAST TURKEY WITH CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook celery and onion in butter about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender; remove from heat. In large bowl, mix celery mixture and remaining stuffing ingredients until well blended.
• Stuff turkey just before roasting, not ahead of time. Fill wishbone area lightly with stuffing. Fasten neck skin to back with skewer. Fold wings across back with tips touching. Fill body cavity lightly. (Do not pack--stuffing will expand while cooking.) Tuck drumsticks under band of skin at tail, or tie together with heavy string, then tie to tail.
• In small bowl, mix rosemary, 1 tablespoon sage, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and the garlic; rub into turkey skin. Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Brush with 1/4 cup butter. Do not add water. Place meat thermometer in thickest part of inside thigh muscle so thermometer does not touch bone.
• Roast uncovered 4 to 5 hours, brushing with pan juices every 30 minutes, until thermometer reads 165°F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted. Thermometer placed in center of stuffing should read 165°F.
• Place foil loosely over turkey when it begins to turns golden. When turkey is two-thirds done, cut band of skin, or remove string or skewer holding legs. When turkey is done, place on warm platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Let stand about 20 minutes for easiest carving. While turkey is standing, prepare Foolproof Gravy if desired.
• To serve, garnish turkey with fresh herb sprigs, if desired.

MAPLE-GLAZED ROAST TURKEY WITH MIXED-HERB GRAVY

Steps:

• For gravy:
• Toast flour in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat until pale golden (about the color of peanuts), stirring constantly, about 7 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Add butter and whisk until butter melts and mixture is smooth (mixture will become very dark). Gradually whisk in broth. Bring to boil over medium heat, whisking frequently. Reduce heat; simmer until gravy is reduced to 21/2 cups, about 30 minutes. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)
• For turkey:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Rinse turkey inside and out; discard any pieces of fat in neck and main cavity. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Fill neck cavity loosely with bread dressing. Fold skin over and secure with skewer. Fill main cavity loosely with bread dressing. Place turkey on rack in large roasting pan. Tie turkey legs together to hold shape. Tuck wings under turkey. Brush turkey with 11/2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle turkey with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 cup broth into roasting pan.
• Roast turkey 3 hours, basting with pan juices and adding 1/2 cup broth to pan every 30 minutes. Mix maple syrup, ginger and 1 tablespoon melted butter in small bowl; brush mixture over turkey. Continue to roast turkey until thermometer inserted into innermost part of thigh registers 180°F, about 15 minutes longer.
• Transfer turkey to platter. Tent with foil and let turkey stand 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, scrape pan juices and any browned bits from roasting pan into 2-cup measuring cup. Spoon off and discard fat from surface of juices. Add juices to gravy. Add herbs and bring to simmer. Season gravy with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with dressing and gravy.

ROAST HERITAGE TURKEY WITH BACON-HERB AND CIDER GRAVY

Steps:

• For bacon, dijon, and herb butter:
• Blend all ingredients in processor until bacon is finely chopped. Transfer to sheet of plastic wrap. Using plastic wrap as aid, roll butter mixture into 2-inch-diameter log; chill until firm. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• For cider gravy base:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine turkey neck, 1/4 cup turkey fat, and turkey leg in heavy large ovenproof pot. Place in oven; roast uncovered until turkey parts are deep, dark brown, turning once, about 1 1/2 hours. Drain, reserving fat from pot. Reserve 1/4 cup fat for gravy; return 1 tablespoon fat to pot. Return turkey parts to pot; stir in celery, onions, thyme sprigs, and peppercorns. Return pot to oven; roast uncovered 10 minutes. Add apple cider and vinegar; roast 10 minutes longer. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Add 8 cups stock and sage to pot; cook in oven uncovered 1 1/2 hours. Strain gravy base through fine strainer; discard solids in strainer (there will be about 5 cups gravy base). DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• For turkey:
• Cut bacon butter into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and let stand at room temperature 20 minutes. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. Starting at neck end, carefully slide hand between skin and breast meat, then slide hand between skin and thigh meat. Carefully slide butter slices between skin and leg, thigh, and breast meat to cover (there will be a generous amount of butter mixture). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon pepper over turkey, and 1 teaspoon coarse salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in main cavity of turkey. Place turkey on rimmed baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap or foil; chill at least 1 day. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• Set rack at lowest position in oven; preheat to 350°F. Mix onions, celery, fennel, carrots, apples, oil, and bay leaves in large roasting pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Place turkey atop vegetable mixture. Tuck wings under; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Place turkey in oven; roast until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170°F, basting with pan drippings every 30 minutes and tenting loosely with foil if browning too quickly, about 4 hours total. Transfer turkey to platter (internal temperature of turkey will increase 5 to 10 degrees).
• Pour vegetable mixture and pan drippings into large strainer set over large bowl; press on solids to extract liquid. Discard solids in strainer. Spoon off fat from pan drippings; discard (there will be a large amount of fat in pan drippings). Reserve degreased pan drippings for gravy (about 1 cup). Remove fat from surface of gravy base; reserve 1/4 cup fat. Rewarm cider gravy base.
• Melt reserved 1/4 cup fat in large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; stir 3 minutes. Gradually add warm cider gravy base and degreased pan drippings. Simmer until smooth, thickened, and reduced to 51/2 cups, whisking frequently, about 5 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

ROAST TURKEY WITH HERB RUB AND SHIITAKE MUSHROOM GRAVY

Steps:

• Make turkey:
• Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl. Pat turkey dry with paper towels and place on rack set in large roasting pan. If not stuffing turkey, place herb sprigs in main cavity. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Brush turkey with oil. Rub herb mix all over turkey. Place turkey neck and giblets in roasting pan. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead if turkey is not stuffed. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before roasting.)
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Drizzle melted butter all over turkey. Pour 2 cups broth into pan. Roast turkey 45 minutes. Remove turkey from oven and cover breast with foil. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Return turkey to oven; roast unstuffed turkey 1 hour (roast stuffed turkey 1 hour 30 minutes). Remove foil from turkey; pour remaining 2 cups broth into pan. Continue roasting turkey until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F. or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 hour 40 minutes longer. Transfer turkey to platter; tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes. Reserve liquid in pan for gravy.
• Meanwhile, prepare gravy:
• Mix flour and Sherry in small bowl until smooth paste forms. Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and rosemary and sauté until mushrooms begin to soften, about 3 minutes. (Can be made 3 hours ahead. Cover flour paste tightly. Let paste and mushrooms stand at room temperature.)
• Discard turkey neck and giblets from pan juices in roasting pan. Transfer pan juices to large glass measuring cup. Spoon off fat. Add enough chicken broth to measure 5 cups; add to saucepan with mushrooms. Add flour paste and whisk until smooth. Bring mixture to boil, stirring frequently. Boil until thickened to light gravy, about 10 minutes. Mix in cream, thyme and tarragon. Season with salt and pepper. Serve turkey with gravy.

BRINED ROAST TURKEY BREAST WITH HERB PAN GRAVY

Steps:

• Dissolve the kosher salt and sugar in the water in large, clean bucket or stockpot. Set the turkey breast in the brine, making sure it is submerged. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to overnight.
• Remove the turkey breast from the brine. Pat dry and set aside. Place the butter in a bowl; add the sage and thyme. Season the butter well with pepper and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Twenty minutes before roasting, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the turkey on a clean work surface. Using a chef's knife, remove the remaining portion of the neck and reserve it for the stock and gravy. Remove the wishbone to make carving easier; set it aside with the neck for the gravy. With your hand, carefully release the skin on both breasts to form two pockets. Rub the seasoned butter under the released skin. If there is any extra butter, massage it on the outside of the skin.
• Put the celery, carrots, and onions in a large roasting pan. Pour 1/2 cup of the chicken stock into the pan bottom to prevent the drippings from burning. Place the prepared turkey, skin side up, on top of the vegetables. Place the pan in the oven with the wide neck end toward the rear of the oven. Roast for 15 minutes, then rotate the pan back to front. Roast for 15 minutes more, until skin turns golden. Decrease the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and continue to roast, rotating the pan once more about halfway through the cooking, until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast registers 160 degrees F to 165 degrees F, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the turkey breast to a cutting board, preferably with a moat. Cover the turkey loosely with aluminum foil. Pour the remaining 2 cups chicken stock into a saucepan. Add the reserved neck and wishbone and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to simmer.
• Place the roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add the flour to the pan drippings and stir until well combined. Strain the warmed stock over the flour-vegetable combination and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat to simmer and cook until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Strain the mixture into a saucepan (the saucepan that held the stock is fine to use), pressing on the vegetables to get every drop and all the flavor. Check and make sure the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon; if not, continue simmering the sauce until the correct consistency is achieved. (If it's too thick, add a little water or additional stock.)
• Carve the turkey breast and plate on a warm platter. Add any juices that run into the moat to the gravy. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper and serve with the gravy on the side.
• Combine 3 cups cranberries and 3/4 cup sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally,until the berries release their juices, about 8 minutes. Add the juice of 2 oranges (about 1/2 cup), 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1 cinnamon stick, and 1 star anise. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Peel 3 firm pears, then core and cut into 1/2-inch dice and add to the chutney with the finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon. Decrease the heat to medium-low and cook until the mixture thickens and the pears are tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

CITRUS AND HERB ROAST TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Sprinkle turkey breast evenly with salt and pepper.
• Stir together butter, rosemary, and sage. Loosen skin from turkey without detaching it; spread butter mixture under skin. Arrange one-fourth of orange and lemon slices over butter mixture. Gently pull skin over fruit. Coat with cooking spray. Place turkey in an aluminum foil-lined baking pan coated with cooking spray. Place onion and remaining orange and lemon slices in pan. Drizzle with wine.
• Bake at 325° for 2 hours and 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 170°, basting every 30 minutes.
• Cover loosely with aluminum foil coated with cooking spray to prevent excessive browning after 1 hour and 30 minutes, if necessary.

ROAST TURKEY BREAST WITH CHIPOTLE-HERB RUB RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F
• Rinse the turkey breast under cold running water and pat it dry with paper towels. Place it in a baking dish and set it aside.
• Combine the chipotle pepper, herbs, garlic, salt and pepper in a mortar and pestle or chop them on a cutting board until they form a paste.
• Add the olive oil to the mortar and pestle or transfer the mixture to a small bowl and add the olive oil.
• Rub the turkey breast with the chipotle paste.
• Carefully slip your fingers under the skin and put more paste between the skin and the meat.
• Roast the turkey breast in the oven for about 2 hours.
• Let the turkey rest at room temperature for about 15 minutes before carving.

ROAST TURKEY WITH MAPLE HERB BUTTER AND GRAVY

Steps:

• Make turkey:.
• Boil apple cider and maple syrup in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat until reduces to 1/2 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in half of chopped thyme, half of marjoram and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon peel. Add butter and whisk until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
• Position rack in lowest third of oven and preheat to 375°F Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Slide hand under skin of turkey breast to loosen shin. Rub 1/2 cup maple butter over breast under skin. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into main cavity. Rub 1/4 cup maple butter over outside of turkey. Reserve remaining maple butter for gravy. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey. Arrange onion, celery, carrot and reserved turkey nick and giblets around turkey in pan. Sprinkle vegetables with remaining 1 tablespoon thyme and remaining 1 tablespoon marjoram. Pour 2 cups broth into pan.
• Roast turkey 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F Cover entire turkey loosely with heavy-duty foil and roast until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F or until juices rum clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 2 hours 25 minutes for unstuffed turkey (2 hours 55 minutes for stuffed turkey). Transfer turkey to platter. Tent turkey with aluminum foil and let stand 30 minutes; reserve mixture in pan for gravy.
• Make gravy:.
• Strain pan juices into large measuring cup, pressing on solids with back of spoon. Spoon fat from pan juices. Add enough chicken broth to pan juices to measure 3 cups. Transfer liquid to heavy medium saucepan and bring to boil. Mix 3 tablespoons reserved maple butter and flour in small bowl to form smooth paste. Whisk paste into broth mixture. Add chopped fresh thyme and bay leaf. Boil until reduces to sauce consistency, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes. Mix in apple brandy, if desired. Season gravy to taste with salt and pepper.
• Brush turkey with any remaining maple butter and serve with gravy.

ROAST TURKEY WITH HERB BUTTER AND CARAMELIZED-ONION GRAVY

Steps:

• For gravy base:.
• Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onions and sauté until deep brown, about 40 minutes.
• Mix in rosemary and thyme, then flour; stir 1 minute.
• Add vinegar and honey; simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.).
• For turkey:.
• Mix butter and herbs in small bowl.
• Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry.
• Place on rack set in large roasting pan. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper.
• Starting at neck end, slide hand between skin and breast meat to loosen skin. Spread 1/4 cup herb butter over breast meat under skin. Rub remaining butter over outside of turkey.
• Place turkey parts and onion quarters in pan around turkey. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.).
• Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 350°F.
• If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing loosely into main cavity and neck cavity.
• Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Roast turkey uncovered 1 hour.
• Tent turkey breast and tops of drumsticks loosely with foil; roast 1 hour longer.
• Add 1 cup broth, herb sprigs, and bay leaf to drippings in pan. Celsius.
• ontinue to roast until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, basting with 3/4 cup broth and pan juices every 30 minutes, about 2 hours 30 minutes longer for unstuffed and 3 hours longer for stuffed.
• Transfer turkey to platter; let stand 30 minutes (internal temperature will increase 5 to 10 degrees).
• Strain pan juices into 8-cup measuring cup; spoon fat off top.
• Heat gravy base over medium heat.
• Whisk in flour, then pan juices. Boil until gravy is reduced to 7 cups, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.

CLASSIC BUTTER-HERB ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lowest part of the oven; remove the other racks and preheat to 350˚. Put the turkey neck, celery, carrots, 6 wedges each onion and apple, half of the sage and half of the parsley in the center of a large roasting pan, creating a mound for the turkey to sit on. Stuff 2 tablespoons butter, the remaining 2 wedges each onion and apple and the remaining sage and parsley inside the cavity of the turkey. Place the turkey breast-side up on top of the vegetables.
• Combine 1 tablespoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the turkey dry and season all over with half of the salt and pepper mixture. Spread the remaining 6 tablespoons butter all over the turkey, then sprinkle with the remaining salt and pepper mixture. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body. Pour 1 cup water into the roasting pan around the vegetables.
• Roast the turkey 1 1/2 hours, then baste with the pan drippings. Continue to roast, basting every 30 minutes, until the skin is crisp and golden and a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 160˚ to 165˚, 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours more. (Tent with foil if the skin is browning too quickly.) Let rest 15 minutes in the pan.
• Carefully tip the turkey so any juices pour into the roasting pan. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and let rest at least 30 minutes before carving. Remove the vegetables and herbs from the roasting pan and use the drippings for gravy.

APPLE AND HERB INFUSED ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• 1. Thaw turkey in fridge until you can remove the packet gravy mix, livers - etc, thermometer, and that plastic piece that ALWAYS gives me fits trying to take off.
• 2. For Injection: Place all ingredient in a microwave-safe bowl EXCEPT cider. Microwave for 2 minutes.
• 3. Let rosemary steep in the hot liquid about 10 minutes.
• 4. Add the cider, then place in the refrigerator. This is an important step - you don't want to inject a cold turkey with hot liquid.
• 5. Prep your veggies. Core apple and quarter. Remove peel from onion and cut in half. Cut carrot and celery into approx 3-inch pieces. Cut rosemary into 2 smaller sprigs. Smash garlic. At this time I go ahead and slice the other clove of garlic into thin slices. It will basically melt away with the butter under the skin.
• 6. Place veggies, fruit, rosemary sprigs, and smashed garlic in cavity.
• 7. Separate the skin from the breast as best you can. For me it makes the job easier to use a long rubber spatula handle to reach further.
• 8. Place the thin butter slices, and garlic slices evenly under both sides of the breast skin. The spatula handle comes in handy for this as well.
• 9. Use last tab of butter to spread all over exposed turkey. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Don't overdo it. You will have a lot of flavor going into the turkey with the injection.
• 10. With your injector, at even intervals, inject your turkey with the cider, herb, and spice mixture. Be sure to not only inject the breasts but the legs and thighs as well. You probably will not use the entire amount. I had a large turkey and had a little over 1/4 cup left.
• 11. I chose to use a cooking bag, but if you prefer to baste you can add the remaining liquid to your roasting pan. More juices will accumulate as you go, so you will have plenty of basting liquid to work with.
• 12. Spray non-stick cooking spray inside the roasting bag and dust with a little flour. Place the turkey in the roasting bag, rinse the roasting pot, and then place back into the roasting pan.
• 13. Cut six 1/2 inch slits on top of the bag.
• 14. Bake as recommended. For my turkey size, it is 3 to 3 1/2 hours in the bag. There are many sites where you can find the cooking times for your turkey.
• 15. After 3 hours, check the temperature. I check on the inside of the leg where the breast meets the thigh, in the upper thigh area. When the temp reaches 165, set aside and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
• 16. This will give you time to bake off your sides, and rolls, before slicing turkey.

EMERIL'S BACON AND HERB ROAST TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Line a shallow roasting pan or baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Rinse the turkey breast and pat dry.
• Cook the bacon in a medium skillet until crisp then transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Reserve 1 tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat.
• Finely mince the cooked bacon when it has cooled and transfer to a small bowl.
• Add the garlic, sage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, butter, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper.
• Mix thoroughly to combine and form a paste.
• Gently loosen the skin on both sides of the turkey breast so that it is separated from the flesh.
• Divide the herb paste in half and gently spread half between the skin and flesh on each side of the breast.
• Season the outside of the turkey breast with the remaining teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
• Brush the turkey all over with the reserved bacon fat.
• Place prepared turkey breast in the prepared pan and roast, uncovered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deep portion of the breast registers 165 degrees F, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 or 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 minutes before carving into thin slices.
• Serve with the pan drippings.

GILDED SAFFRON AND BUTTER BASTED ROAST TURKEY WITH HERB GARLAND

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 170°C/350°F or Gas Mark 4.
• Wipe the turkey, and remove any giblets from inside the bird if necessary.
• Smear the butter all over the bird and place the onion, herbs and lemon inside the body cavity. Season the bird with salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the buttered bird into a foil lined turkey tray. Cut a piece of greaseproof paper or baking parchment and press this over the breast part of the bird - to prevent the breast becoming too dry during cooking.
• Cover the turkey with 2 large pieces of tinfoil/aluminum foil - making sure the foil DOES NOT touch the bird - you are creating a tent - with lots of air to circulate inside!
• Cook in the preheated oven for 20 minutes per pound, plus 20 minutes - so a 10lb turkey will take about 3 hours and 40 minutes.
• Try to take the turkey out at least twice during cooking time, to baste it with the buttery juices. Replace the foil cover before putting it back to continue cooking in the oven.
• Whilst the bird is cooking, prepare your gilded glaze - choose which one you prefer, egg glaze or butter glaze.
• Whisk the egg yolks with the saffron and melted butter. It needs to be the consistancy of a coating glaze, or a thick pouring cream or custard. If you are using just the butter glaze - whisk the saffron and melted butter together - this glaze will be thinner than the egg glaze.
• Twenty minutes before the end of the cooking time, remove the turkey from the oven, and drain off all the juices for your gravy.
• Turn the oven up to 190°C/380°F or Gas Mark 5.
• Apply your gilded glaze to the turkey with a large pastry brush - brush it ALL over the turkey as evenly as you can and NOT too thickly with the egg glaze.
• Return the turkey to the oven uncovered for the last 20 minutes - remove from the oven and allow to "rest" for 30 minutes before carving.
• Remove the herbs, lemon and onion from the cavity before carving and serving.
• Make the herb garland - twist sprigs of thyme, bay and rosemary together with some cooking string or twine, to form a circlet.
• Serve the turkey adorned with a twisted garland of herbs, and with traditional accompaniments such as: Roast potatoes, mixed vegetables, red cabbage, gravy, stuffing, bacon rolls and Chipolata sausage rolls.
• You can also "gild" the turkey by sprinkling edible gold dusting powder over the breast and legs of the turkey - this is available from specialist cake decorating shops.