Categories: Poultry
Ingredients
- 1whole turkey (18 lb), thawed if frozen
- 1/4cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1tablespoon garlic salt
- 1tablespoon dried oregano leaves
- 1tablespoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
- 1 1/2teaspoons ground mustard
- 1teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2tablespoons olive oil
Directions
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Move oven rack to lowest position. Heat oven to 325°F. Discard giblets and neck from turkey or reserve for another use. Using fingers, gently loosen skin covering turkey breast and thighs; spread butter evenly under skin. In small bowl, combine spices. Rub spice mixture over turkey skin. Fold wings across back of turkey so tips are touching.
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Place turkey, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Drizzle oil over turkey. Tuck legs under band of skin at tail, or tie together with heavy string, then tie to tail. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle and does not touch bone. Do not add water to pan.
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Roast uncovered 2 hours. Cut band of skin or remove string holding legs, to allow the inside of the thighs to cook thoroughly and evenly. Roast 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes longer or until thermometer reads 165°F and legs move easily when lifted or twisted (cover loosely with foil if necessary to prevent overbrowning). Remove turkey from oven; let stand 15 minutes before carving.