MOLASSES-AND-CIDER-GLAZED TURKEY WITH RYE-AND-BLACK-WALNUT STUFFING

Molasses-and-Cider-Glazed Turkey with Rye-and-Black-Walnut Stuffing image

If the stuffing inside the turkey doesn't reach 165 degrees by the time the bird is done, transfer it to a baking dish and bake until it does.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Turkey Recipes

Time 3h45m

Number Of Ingredients 23

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Ingredients

1 1/4 cups apple cider, preferably unfiltered
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds), room temperature, patted dry
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth, plus more as needed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for baking dish
1 medium onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch-pieces (1 1/2 cups)
4 cloves garlic, minced (2 tablespoons)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 large loaf rye bread, cut into 1-inch pieces and lightly toasted (12 cups)
1 cup black walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1/2 cup lightly packed coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Whole apples and pears and fennel fronds, for serving (optional)

Steps:

Turkey: Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third. Boil 1/2 cup cider in a small saucepan until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in molasses until combined. Season body and neck cavities of turkey generously with salt and pepper. Rub butter evenly over skin; season with salt and pepper. Let stand 30 minutes.
Stuffing: Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Add onion, celery, apple, and garlic; season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Add wine; bring to a boil and cook until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; toss with bread, walnuts, parsley, and 1 cup broth until combined. Fold in eggs.
Lightly pack half of stuffing into body and neck cavities of turkey. Toss remaining stuffing with remaining 1 cup broth; transfer to a lightly buttered 2-quart baking dish and cover with parchment-lined foil. Tie turkey legs together with twine. Transfer to a roasting pan fitted with a rack. Pour broth and remaining 3/4 cup cider into pan.
Roast turkey 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees. Brush turkey with some of cider-molasses glaze. Continue roasting, brushing with more glaze every 20 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) and into stuffing registers 165 degrees, 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on size of bird. (Add more broth as needed to prevent bottom of pan from scorching.) Transfer turkey to a carving board. Let stand 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, bake extra stuffing in baking dish 15 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until top is crisp and golden brown in spots, about 15 minutes more.
Gravy: Remove rack from roasting pan; skim excess fat from pan drippings with a large spoon. Heat pan across two burners over medium-high. Add wine and bring to a boil, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Add 2 1/2 cups broth; return to a boil. Whisk together remaining 1/4 cup broth and flour in a small bowl. Slowly pour flour mixture into pan, whisking constantly, until gravy thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in butter until combined. Strain gravy through a fine-mesh sieve; transfer to a gravy boat.
Remove twine from turkey and transfer to a platter. Garnish with apples, pears, and fennel. Carve turkey and serve, with stuffing and gravy alongside.