Description
This easy roast turkey recipe offers perfectly golden, juicy turkey with minimal fuss. Ideal for holiday gatherings, it involves simple seasonings and a methodical roasting process that ensures flavorful, tender meat. Complete with a delicious gravy made from the pan drippings, it’s a foolproof centerpiece for any celebration.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 whole turkey – approximately 4.5 kg (10 lbs)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 240 ml (1 cup) chicken stock
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 160°C Fan/180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4 to prepare for roasting.
- Prepare the turkey: Remove giblets and neck from inside the turkey cavity; save them for making stock if desired. Tuck the tips of the legs into the cavity and fold the wing tips underneath the bird for a neater appearance.
- Position the turkey: Place the turkey on a large wire rack set inside a roasting tray to allow even heat circulation.
- Season the turkey: Rub the entire surface with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and black pepper for flavor and skin crispness.
- Add liquids: Pour the chicken stock into the base of the roasting tray to keep the environment moist during roasting.
- Cover with foil: Lightly oil or spray foil, then tent it over the turkey ensuring it does not touch the meat, to trap steam and keep the turkey moist.
- Roast the turkey: Roast uncovered for the last hour of cooking. Roast for about 2 hours covered, then remove the foil and roast for an additional hour or until the skin is golden brown.
- Rest the turkey: Transfer the cooked turkey to a warm plate and let it rest, uncovered, for 30 to 60 minutes to allow juices to redistribute for maximum tenderness and juiciness.
- Make gravy: Use the juices in the tray to prepare gravy, adding seasonings or thickening as desired, perfect for serving with the turkey.
Notes
- Adjust cooking time based on turkey size; increase if larger than 4.5 kg (10 lbs).
- Resting the turkey is crucial for juicy meat; don’t skip this step.
- For extra flavor, stuff the cavity with herbs or citrus slices before roasting.
- If your turkey is larger, allow approximately 15-20 minutes per pound for roasting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx 120g)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
