
Moist and golden, this Christmas turkey will be the crowning glory of your festive feast. It's simple to make and guaranteed to impress friends and family
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal686
- fat32g
- saturates13g
- carbs0g
- sugars0g
- fibre0g
- protein100g
- salt0.86g
Ingredients
- 1 turkey, about 6kg/13lb, giblets removed
Turkey
terk-eeWhile it's the traditional Christmas bird, turkey is good to eat all year round, though…
- 140g butter, at room temperature
Butter
butt-errButter is made when lactic-acid producing bacteria are added to cream and churned to make an…
- zest 1 lemon
Lemon
le-monOval in shape, with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile fruits…
- zest 1 orange
Orange
or-angeOne of the best-known citrus fruits, oranges aren't necessarily orange - some varieties are…
- 2 thyme sprigs, leaves finely chopped
Thyme
This popular herb grows in Europe, especially the Mediterranean, and is a member of the mint…
- 1 rosemary sprig, leaves finely chopped
Rosemary
rose-mar-eeRosemary's intense, fragrant aroma has traditionally been paired with lamb, chicken and game…
- 4 large onions, halved
Onion
un-yunOnions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Olive oil
ol-iv oylProbably the most widely-used oil in cooking, olive oil is pressed from fresh olives. It's…
Method
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Pat the turkey dry all over with kitchen paper. Now weigh the bird and calculate the cooking time at 40 mins per kg.
Mix the butter with the zests and herbs, and season well. Gently push your fingers under the turkey’s skin, starting from the neck end of the bird, easing the skin away from the flesh over both the breasts and the tops of the drumsticks. Spread the butter under the skin, pushing it in as far as you can, then smooth the skin back into place. Halve the lemon and orange and put in the turkey cavity along with 2 onion halves and the bay leaves.
Rub turkey all over with oil and sprinkle with salt. Arrange remaining onions in the bottom of a large roasting tin to act as a trivet for the bird. Sit the turkey on top and completely cover both bird and tin with foil to make a tent. Roast according to your calculated cooking times.
Thirty mins before the end of the cooking time, take out the turkey and turn up the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the foil and return to the oven for a further 30 mins until golden.
To test whether your turkey is cooked, pierce the fattest part of the thigh with a skewer – the juices that run out should be clear and not pink. Keep cooking if the juices are pink and re-check at 10-min intervals. If you like your turkey meat almost falling off the bone, then wiggle the leg – it should give slightly if the meat is ready. Keep cooking and basting until it does.
Rest the turkey, covered loosely with foil, for at least 30 mins and up to 1 hr before serving. Strain and reserve the cooking juices and keep the onions in the tin for making gravy.
Comments, questions and tips