Apple And Herb Infused Roast Turkey Recipes

APPLE AND HERB INFUSED ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• 1. Thaw turkey in fridge until you can remove the packet gravy mix, livers - etc, thermometer, and that plastic piece that ALWAYS gives me fits trying to take off.
• 2. For Injection: Place all ingredient in a microwave-safe bowl EXCEPT cider. Microwave for 2 minutes.
• 3. Let rosemary steep in the hot liquid about 10 minutes.
• 4. Add the cider, then place in the refrigerator. This is an important step - you don't want to inject a cold turkey with hot liquid.
• 5. Prep your veggies. Core apple and quarter. Remove peel from onion and cut in half. Cut carrot and celery into approx 3-inch pieces. Cut rosemary into 2 smaller sprigs. Smash garlic. At this time I go ahead and slice the other clove of garlic into thin slices. It will basically melt away with the butter under the skin.
• 6. Place veggies, fruit, rosemary sprigs, and smashed garlic in cavity.
• 7. Separate the skin from the breast as best you can. For me it makes the job easier to use a long rubber spatula handle to reach further.
• 8. Place the thin butter slices, and garlic slices evenly under both sides of the breast skin. The spatula handle comes in handy for this as well.
• 9. Use last tab of butter to spread all over exposed turkey. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning. Don't overdo it. You will have a lot of flavor going into the turkey with the injection.
• 10. With your injector, at even intervals, inject your turkey with the cider, herb, and spice mixture. Be sure to not only inject the breasts but the legs and thighs as well. You probably will not use the entire amount. I had a large turkey and had a little over 1/4 cup left.
• 11. I chose to use a cooking bag, but if you prefer to baste you can add the remaining liquid to your roasting pan. More juices will accumulate as you go, so you will have plenty of basting liquid to work with.
• 12. Spray non-stick cooking spray inside the roasting bag and dust with a little flour. Place the turkey in the roasting bag, rinse the roasting pot, and then place back into the roasting pan.
• 13. Cut six 1/2 inch slits on top of the bag.
• 14. Bake as recommended. For my turkey size, it is 3 to 3 1/2 hours in the bag. There are many sites where you can find the cooking times for your turkey.
• 15. After 3 hours, check the temperature. I check on the inside of the leg where the breast meets the thigh, in the upper thigh area. When the temp reaches 165, set aside and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
• 16. This will give you time to bake off your sides, and rolls, before slicing turkey.

JUICY HERB-ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Chop 8 sage leaves and leaves from 2 thyme sprigs. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup oil, garlic, salt and pepper with chopped herbs. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks., Cut onions into wedges and the celery, carrots and parsnips into 2-in. pieces. Place about a fifth of the onions, celery and carrots in the turkey cavity; add 4 sage sprigs and remaining 4 thyme sprigs to cavity. Arrange remaining vegetables evenly in a roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, over vegetables. Brush with remaining 1/4 cup oil., Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads 170°-175°, 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand 20 minutes before carving. Discard vegetables. If desired, use drippings to make gravy.

ROAST TURKEY WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in the lowest position. Make herb butter: In a small bowl, mix together 4 tablespoons butter with chopped herbs; season generously with salt and pepper.
• Prepare and stuff the turkey. Loosen skin: Working from the neck end, slide fingers under skin until you reach the end of the breast, being careful not to tear the skin; rub herb butter under the skin. Fill neck cavity: Place turkey breast side down. Fill neck cavity with stuffing; avoid packing. Close up by folding skin over and fastening with skewers or trussing needles. Tuck wings: Turn turkey over; bend wing tips underneath bird so they stay in place (you may have to break the bones). Loosely fill large cavity with stuffing. Tie legs: Using cotton kitchen twine, tie legs together securely (they will overlap) so bird retains its shape and moisture during cooking.
• Cut neck into pieces; mix with carrots, onions, celery, and 2 cups water in a large roasting pan. Set roasting rack over vegetables in pan.
• Lift turkey onto rack; rub with remaining tablespoon butter. Season generously with salt and pepper. Tent turkey loosely with foil. Roast 1 hour, then baste every 30 minutes with pan liquids, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) registers 125 degrees, about 3 hours.
• Remove foil; raise oven heat to 400 degrees. Continue roasting, basting occasionally, until thigh reaches 180 degrees, 45 to 60 minutes more. Tent with foil if bird browns too quickly; add more water if pan becomes dry. Transfer turkey to a serving platter; cover loosely with foil, and let it rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

APPLE AND HONEY FLAVORED ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Place the turkey as wrapped in the refrigerator for a day or two to defreeze.
• Unwrapped the turkey and place outside in a big pot; cover it with cold water, change the water every 30 minutes (it will take at least six hours to thaw);.
• Stick your hand in the cavity and remove any organs, or "things" you may find inside of the turkey cavity and trim excess fat.
• Under cold water, rub the turkey gently with your fingers to make sure it is clean.
• When the Turkey is clean, soak it with two squeezed lemon juice for 30 minutes and rinse the turkey, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Place the turkey, breast side up on roasting pan with rack.
• Into main cavity, sprinkle squeezed fresh lemon juice; add lemon peels and 1 bunch fresh thyme cavity. Fill the turkey body (main) cavity with apple slices.
• Tuck wings; tie legs together.
• Mix the paprika, garlic, black pepper and salt.
• Rub the skin and the cavity with the softened butter or oil, and season well with the mixed spices.
• Combine the apple juice, honey and the chicken or vegetable stock; stir until honey dissolves.
• Pour 3 cups of the mixed stock into the bottom of the roasting pan.
• Cover the turkey with an aluminum foil making it like a tent.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place turkey in oven and start roasting; remove aluminum foil after 2 ½ hours.
• Cover the turkey generously with the juices on the bottom of the pan; repeat glazing every 20 minutes. Whenever the drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten them, about 1 cup at a time.
• Roast until turkey is deep brown and thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F, it will take 2 ½ to 3 hours.
• Transfer the turkey to a large cutting board; remove the stuffing (the Apple slices, lemon peels and thyme) and let it stand for at least 20 minutes before carving. Serve it warm.