Herb-Butter-Roasted Turkey
(from Lucianolinda’s recipe box)
Source: Taste of Home magazine
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 150 minutes
Serves 12 people
Categories: Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 turkey (10-12 lb.), thawed if frozen
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room
- temperature
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tsp. fresh sage, chopped
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 1 small yellow onion, quartered
- 1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups unsalted turkey or chicken stock
Directions
- Allow turkey to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before placing in oven.
- Remove giblets and neck. Add neck to roasting pan, if desired pat dry with paper towels. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
- In a bowl, mix butter, parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage and 1/4 tsp. of the salt until well combined.
- Place lemon and onion inside turkey. Tie legs and place on a rack in a roasting pan, tucking wings underneath turkey. Season with remaining 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Spread 4 Tbsp. of the herb butter on the turkey (refrigerate remaining butter; 1 more Tbsp. will be used to make gravy and the rest can be for another use).
- Roast on bottom rack at 425 degrees for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until temperature in thigh reaches 165 degrees. (Cover legs with foil if darkening too quickly, but resist opening the oven too often.)
- Transfer turkey to a cutting board and allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving.
- While turkey is resting, make gravy. Place roasting pan over two burners on medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp. of the herb butter. When melted, whisk in flour. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour in stock and bring to boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until thickened. Season with remaining 1/8 tsp. pepper. Serve alongside turkey.