ATC HERBED TURKEY

ATC HERBED TURKEY image

Categories turkey Roast Thanksgiving Dinner

Yield 10-12 people

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

Turkey and Brine
2 cups table salt
1 turkey (12 to 14 pounds gross weight), rinsed thoroughly; giblets and neck reserved for gravy (if making), and tailpiece removed
Herb Paste
1 1/4 cups chopped fresh parsley leaves (roughly chopped)
4 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves (roughly chopped)
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
1 medium shallot , minced (about 3 tablespoons)
2 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
3/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest , from 1 lemon
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil

Steps:

3. FOR THE HERB PASTE: Process parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, shallot, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in food processor until consistency of coarse paste, ten 2-second pulses. Add mustard and olive oil; continue to process until mixture forms smooth paste, ten to twelve 2-second pulses; scrape sides of processor bowl with rubber spatula after 5 pulses. 4. TO PREPARE THE TURKEY: Adjust oven rack to lowest position; heat oven to 400. Line large V-rack with heavy-duty foil and poke 20-30 holes in foil; set V-rack in large roasting pan. Set turkey breast side up on baking sheet. Tuck wings behind back and tuck tips of drumsticks into skin at tail to secure. 5. Loosen skin. Using spoon, slip 1 1/2 tablespoons paste under breast skin on each side of turkey. Distribute paste under skin over breast, thigh, and drumstick meat. 6. Using sharp paring knife, cut 1 1/2-inch vertical slit into thickest part of each breast. Starting from top of incision, swing knife tip down to create 4- to 5-inch pocket within flesh. Place 1 tablespoon paste in pocket of each breast; using fingers, rub in thin, even layer. 7. Rub 1 tablespoon paste inside turkey cavity. Rotate turkey breast side down; apply half remaining herb paste to turkey skin; flip turkey breast side up and apply remaining herb paste to skin, pressing and patting to make paste adhere; reapply herb paste that falls onto baking sheet. 8. ROAST THE TURKEY breast side down on prepared V-rack in roasting pan for 45 minutes. 9. Remove roasting pan with turkey from oven. Rotate turkey breast side up. Continue to roast until thickest part of breast registers 165 degrees and thickest part of thigh registers 170 to 175 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 50 to 60 minutes longer. Let rest 30 minutes. 10. If roasting a 14- to 18-pound bird, increase all of the ingredients for the herb paste (except the black pepper) by 50 percent.