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How to Make Our Easier Roast Turkey and Gravy

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Recipe Information

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Roast Turkey

Cultural Context

Roast turkey is a staple of Canadian Thanksgiving, celebrated on the second Monday in October, and is often associated with harvest festivals. The dish symbolizes gratitude and abundance, bringing families together for a festive meal. While traditional recipes are common, many modern variations include unique marinades and stuffing, reflecting regional tastes and preferences.

North AmericanCAmain
180 min
medium
8 servings
Servings4
4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 teaspoons sugar
1 (12- to 14-pound) turkey, neck and giblets removed
2 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 small onion, chopped fine
1 carrot, sliced thin
5 sprigs fresh parsley
2 bay leaves
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 ¼ cups water
¼ cup dry white wine

butter

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Olive oil reduces saturated fat while adding flavor.

whole turkey

💰Cheaper: turkey breast

Turkey breast is less expensive and easier to cook.

chicken broth

🥗Healthier: vegetable broth

Vegetable broth is lower in calories and suitable for vegetarians.

fresh herbs

💰Cheaper: dried herbs

Dried herbs are more accessible and have a longer shelf life.

1

Combine 4 tablespoons kosher salt and 4 teaspoons sugar in a bowl.

2

Place a 12- to 14-pound turkey, breast side up, on the counter. Remove the neck and giblets and reserve them for the gravy.

3

Using your fingers, carefully loosen the skin covering breast and legs.

4

Rub 4 teaspoons salt-sugar mixture under skin of each breast, 2 teaspoons under skin of each leg, and remaining salt-sugar mixture inside cavity.

5

Tuck wings behind back and tie legs together with kitchen twine.

6

Place turkey on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for 24 to 48 hours.

7

At least 30 minutes before roasting turkey, adjust oven rack to lowest position, set baking stone on rack, set roasting pan on baking stone, and heat oven to 500 degrees.

8

Combine 1½ teaspoons vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon baking powder in a small bowl. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Rub oil mixture evenly over turkey.

9

Cover turkey breast with double layer of aluminum foil.

10

Remove roasting pan from oven. Drizzle remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil into roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, in pan and return pan to oven.

11

Reduce oven temperature to 425 degrees and roast for 45 minutes.

12

Remove foil, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees, and continue to roast until breast registers 160 degrees and drumsticks/thighs register 175 degrees, 1 to 1½ hours longer.

13

Using spatula, loosen turkey from roasting pan; transfer to carving board and let rest, uncovered, for 45 minutes.

14

While turkey rests, using wooden spoon, scrape up any browned bits from bottom of roasting pan. Strain mixture through fine-mesh strainer set over bowl. Transfer drippings to fat separator and let rest for 10 minutes.

15

Reserve 3 tablespoons fat and defatted liquid (you should have 1 cup; add water if necessary). Discard remaining fat.

16

Heat reserved fat in large saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add reserved neck and giblets and cook until well browned, 10 to 12 minutes.

17

Transfer neck and giblets to large plate. Reduce heat to medium; add 1 finely chopped onion, 1 thinly sliced carrot, 5 parsley sprigs, and 2 bay leaves; and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, 5 to 7 minutes.

18

Add 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook, stirring constantly, until flour is well coated with fat, about 1 minute.

19

Slowly whisk in reserved defatted liquid and cook until thickened, about 1 minute.

20

Whisk in 3¼ cups water and ¼ cup dry white wine, return neck and giblets to pan, and bring to simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes.

21

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Discard neck. Strain gravy through fine-mesh strainer, discarding solids, and transfer to serving bowl.

22

Carve turkey and arrange on serving platter. Serve with gravy.

Cooking Techniques

bastingroasting

Equipment Needed

roasting panbaking stonewire rackkitchen twinefine-mesh strainerlarge saucepan

Spice Level:

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Allergens

dairy

Also Known As

Thanksgiving TurkeyHoliday Turkey

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