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Fennel and citrus roast turkey
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This Italian-inspired recipe is a game-changer; cooking the bird in wine results in juicy meat while simultaneously imbuing it with flavour.
Serves: 6-8 with leftovers
1 medium free-range turkey (about 5kg)
1½ tbsp sea salt flakes
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
125g unsalted butter, softened
1 lemon, zested and halved
1 orange, zested and halved
4 garlic cloves, crushed
6 sprigs rosemary
6 sprigs thyme
2 fresh bay leaves
1 carrot, halved
1 celery stick, cut into 3
1 onion, halved
500ml white wine
3 tbsp olive oil
1. Remove the turkey from the fridge about 1 hour before roasting, to let it come to room temperature. Calculate the cooking time at 35 minutes per kg (so 2 hours 55 minutes for a 5kg turkey). Put the bird in a large roasting tin and set aside. In a pestle and mortar or spice grinder, finely grind the salt, fennel seeds and peppercorns; set aside. In a bowl, mash together the butter, citrus zests and garlic; set aside. Preheat the oven to 180˚C, gas mark 4.
2. Carefully push your fingers between the skin and breast meat of the turkey to create 2 pockets, then push in the flavoured butter; smooth it down with your fingers. Sprinkle the fennel salt over the skin of the bird. Put the citrus halves and herbs into the cavity. Put the carrot, celery and onion in the tray; pour in the wine. Cover the tin in a double layer of thick foil, making sure it is well sealed. Roast for the calculated cooking time, minus 20 minutes. After this time, turn the oven up to 200˚C, gas mark 6, remove the foil from the turkey, drizzle the skin with a little olive oil and cook, uncovered, for the final 20 minutes.
3. To test if the turkey is cooked, push a skewer or small knife into the thickest part of the thigh; the juices should run clear. If not, return to the oven for 10 minutes before checking again. Repeat until cooked through and no pink meat remains. Transfer the turkey to a warm serving platter, cover with a layer of foil and a few clean tea towels or hand towels. Rest for 1 hour-1 hour 15 minutes before carving.
This recipe first appeared in Waitrose & Partners Food, December 2019 issue. Download the Waitrose & Partners Food app for the full issue
Typical values per serving:
Energy |
Per serving (6) 2074kJ 497kcals |
---|---|
Fat | 30g |
Saturated Fat | 15g |
Carbohydrate | 1.1g |
Sugars | trace |
Protein | 55g |
Salt | 2g |
Fibre | 0.9g |
This recipe was first published in Thu Nov 28 10:35:13 GMT 2019.
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