The Perfect Turkey
The Perfect Turkey
Rub Mixture
Ingredients
1 packet of bacon rashers
1 large onion
4 large garlic cloves
1 large handful of parsley chopped up finely
1 large handful of sage chopped up finely
1 large handful of rosemary chopped up finely
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp salt
1 tbsp oil
Method
Chop up the bacon and add to a large bowl
Dice the onion, mince the garlic and chop the herbs
Add the oil and combine
Season
The Turkey
Ingredients
10lb approx. turkey
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 large onion halved
Method
Prepare turkey by slicing into each drumstick twice and then in the under thigh
Using your hand, separate the skin from the breast on both sides of the crown of the turkey,
Push the rub mixture under the skin of the turkey and in the cuts you have just made to the drumsticks and thighs
Any leftover rub put in cavity along with the halved onion
Season the turkey, inside and out, and rub well with oil
Place parchment paper on the rack of a roasting tray
Put your turkey on top of the parchment paper, upside down, breast on the paper
Pour 300ml of water in the bottom of the tray to keep the turkey moist
Put the turkey into the middle shelf of your oven and cook for 1 hour at 180 degrees
After 1 hour, take the turkey out of the oven
Flip it right side up and remove the parchment paper
Fully cover the turkey with tin foil and crimp the foil down to the edges of the roasting tray
Put it back in the oven for another hour
After the second hour remove the tin foil and cover only the turkey drumsticks with foil (stops them from burning) allowing the breast to brown
Put the turkey back in the oven for another 30 minutes
The turkey will be ready in approx. 2 hours and 30 min in total time
If you have a meat thermometer, skewer the thickest part of the breast and check that temperature is at least 75C
If you don’t have a thermometer, skewer the thickest part of the thigh and breast and ensure the juices run clear
Leave your turkey to rest for at least 15 min before serving
