This unorthodox method for roasting a turkey gives you a delicious, evenly cooked bird - fast. Before roasting, the bird's legs are splayed so they lie flat on the bottom of the roasting pan, where they are seared. That jump-starts the cooking of the dark meat (which always needs more time than the white meat). Then, after searing, the bird is surrounded by onions and wine before going into the oven; this essentially braises the dark meat while the breast meat roasts. The result is tender dark meat and juicy white meat, all ready in under 2 hours in the oven. An added bonus: You'll get a pan full of rich oniony drippings that can enrich your gravy, or take its place entirely. To get the deepest flavor, this recipe calls for dry-brining your bird at least a day or two ahead. But you can reduce the brining time to 2 hours if you're pressed for time. Also, if you're trying this with a bird that weighs more than 13 pounds, you will need an extra-large roast pan, and to roast it for a bit longer.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, poultry, main course
Time P1DT2h30m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Using a sharp knife, cut through the skin that connects legs to the breast on both sides of the turkey. Press down on thighs until they pop out of the sockets and the legs lie flat.
- In a small bowl, stir together salt, pepper and lemon zest. Smear mixture all over turkey, including inside the cavity. Pat herb sprigs and garlic all over bird. Stuff bay leaves into cavity. Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight or for up to 2 nights.
- Remove turkey from the refrigerator 1 hour before you want to roast it. Remove all but the top rack from the oven. (You can remove that, too, but if you leave it in, you'll be able to roast something else at the same time as the turkey.)
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Take all the herb sprigs and garlic cloves off the surface of the turkey and stuff them into the cavity.
- Place a large, empty heavy-duty roasting pan on top of the stove, across two burners if possible. Heat up the pan for a minute or so, until the pan is quite hot. Add the oil, let it heat up for a few seconds, then add the turkey, breast side up, so the legs are parallel to the short sides of the pan and have room to flop open. Press down on the splayed legs so they touch the bottom of the pan. Let turkey sear for 5 minutes, pressing down on the legs occasionally.
- Pour enough wine into the bottom of the pan to reach a depth of 1/8 inch. Scatter onions around turkey and sprinkle them lightly with salt. Drizzle turkey and onions with a little oil.
- 7. Transfer pan to oven, setting it directly on the oven floor (not on a rack). If you have an electric oven, position the rack at the lowest possible position. Top with a pizza stone, if you have one. Place turkey in its roasting pan on the rack and cook as directed. Roast for 30 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 350 degrees, give the onions a stir, and if the bottom of the pan is dry, add a splash of wine to moisten the onions. (As the turkey continues to cook, occasionally check the onions to make sure they don't dry out or they may burn, adding wine as needed.) Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (but not touching the bone) reads 165 degrees and the breast meat reaches at least 160 degrees, about another 40 to 65 minutes depending upon your oven and the pan you use. Transfer turkey to a cutting board and let rest for 20 minutes before carving.
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Irene Mbugua
[email protected]This turkey recipe is amazing! The turkey was so moist and flavorful, and the skin was crispy and golden brown. I'm definitely going to be making this again for Thanksgiving.
Muazzam Hussain
[email protected]I'm so happy with this recipe. The turkey was cooked perfectly, and the herbs and spices gave it a great flavor. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a delicious and easy way to cook a turkey.
Saqib Khan Swati
[email protected]This is my new go-to turkey recipe. The turkey was perfectly cooked, and the herbs and spices gave it a delicious flavor. I loved that the turkey was splayed, which made it easy to carve.
Miam Danish
[email protected]I'm so glad I tried this recipe. The turkey was absolutely delicious! The herbs and spices gave it so much flavor, and the splayed turkey cooked evenly and beautifully. I'll definitely be making this again.
Ruth Masaiti
[email protected]This turkey recipe is a winner! It was easy to follow, and the turkey turned out perfectly. The meat was moist and flavorful, and the skin was crispy and golden brown. I highly recommend this recipe.
My Mobile
[email protected]I was really happy with this recipe. The turkey was cooked perfectly, and the herbs and spices gave it a great flavor. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a delicious and easy way to cook a turkey.
M Hassan Chohadry
[email protected]This is the best turkey recipe ever! The turkey was so moist and flavorful, and the skin was crispy and golden brown. I'm definitely going to be making this again for Christmas dinner.
Md Azizul Hakim
[email protected]I'm so glad I found this recipe. It's the best turkey recipe I've ever tried. The turkey was so moist and flavorful, and the skin was crispy and golden brown. I'll definitely be making this again for Thanksgiving.
Romel Napelion
[email protected]This turkey recipe is a game-changer! I've never had turkey this good before. The herbs and spices give it so much flavor, and the splayed turkey cooks evenly and beautifully.
Sadiq Abdo
[email protected]I love this recipe! It's so easy to follow, and the turkey always turns out perfectly. I've made it several times now, and it's always a hit with my family and friends.
Apostle Emmanuel Senderayi
[email protected]This turkey recipe is amazing! The turkey was so moist and flavorful, and the skin was crispy and golden brown. I'm definitely going to be making this again for my next dinner party.
Mdfardush45 Fardush
[email protected]I was really impressed with this recipe. The turkey was cooked perfectly, and the herbs and spices gave it a delicious flavor. I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a great way to cook a turkey.
Karla Zapien
[email protected]I've made this recipe several times now, and it's always a hit. The turkey is always juicy and flavorful, and the skin is crispy and golden brown. I love that this recipe is so easy to follow, even for a beginner cook.
Yossef Mohamed
[email protected]This recipe is a great way to prepare a turkey for a special occasion. The splayed turkey looks very impressive, and the herbs and spices add a lot of flavor. I highly recommend this recipe.
Christopher Dobles
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of turkey, but this recipe changed my mind. The turkey was so moist and flavorful, and the herbs and spices were perfect. I'll definitely be making this again.
J V
[email protected]This turkey recipe is a keeper! It was so easy to make, and the turkey was absolutely delicious. I'm definitely going to be making this again for Christmas dinner.
Shaquille Palwaskit Chan
[email protected]I love that this recipe uses fresh herbs. It really makes a difference in the flavor of the turkey. I also like that the turkey is splayed, which helps it cook evenly.
Md Fakor Uddin
[email protected]I was a little hesitant to try this recipe because I've never splayed a turkey before, but it was actually really easy. The instructions were clear and concise, and the turkey turned out beautifully. It was the perfect centerpiece for our Thanksgivin
Sean Damian
[email protected]I've tried many turkey recipes over the years, but this one is by far the best. It's so easy to follow, and the results are always amazing. The turkey is always moist and flavorful, and the skin is crispy and golden brown.
Ruth
[email protected]This splayed turkey recipe was a hit at our Thanksgiving dinner! The herbs and spices gave the turkey so much flavor, and the meat was perfectly cooked and juicy. I'll definitely be making this again.