SAGE BUTTER-ROASTED TURKEY WITH CIDER GRAVY

Sage Butter-Roasted Turkey with Cider Gravy image

Provided by Jeanne Thiel Kelley

Categories Poultry turkey Roast Christmas Thanksgiving Low Cal Dinner Family Reunion Sage Christmas Eve Potluck Calvados Butter Apple Juice Bon Appétit Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free

Yield Makes 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

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Ingredients

Turkey:
3 tablespoons coarse kosher salt
1 tablespoon dried rubbed sage
1 16-to 18-pound turkey, rinsed, patted dry; neck, heart, andgizzard reserved for Turkey Stock
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped fresh sage
3/4 cup fresh refrigerated apple cider or fresh refrigerated apple juice
Gravy:
2 cups (or more) Turkey Stock or low-salt chicken broth
3/4 cup fresh refrigerated apple cider or fresh refrigerated apple juice
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 to 3 tablespoons Calvados (apple brandy) or applejack brandy
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

Steps:

Turkey:
Rub salt and dried sage together in small bowl. Place turkey in roasting pan; sprinkle all over with sage salt. Cover pan with plastic wrap; chill turkey overnight.
Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 375°F. Pat turkey dry. Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together loosely. Stir butter and chopped sage in small saucepan over low heat until butter melts. Brush all over turkey; sprinkle with pepper.
Roast turkey 1 hour; baste with any pan juices. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Roast turkey 45 minutes. Pour 3/4 cup apple cider over; turn pan around. Continue to roast turkey until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°F, basting and turning pan occasionally for even cooking, about 11/4 hours longer. Transfer turkey to platter; tent loosely with foil and let rest 30 to 45 minutes (internal temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees).
Gravy:
Pour all pan juices into large measuring cup. Spoon off fat that rises to surface. Transfer 2 tablespoons fat to heavy large saucepan; discard remaining fat. Place turkey roasting pan over 2 burners. Add 2 cups stock or broth and 3/4 cup cider. Bring to boil over high heat, scraping up browned bits. Boil liquid until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 6 minutes. Add mixture from roasting pan to degreased pan juices. If necessary, add enough stock to measure 3 1/2 cups stock mixture.
Place saucepan with turkey fat over medium-high heat. Add flour; whisk 2 minutes. Whisk in stock mixture. Boil until gravy thickens enough to coat spoon thinly, about 6 minutes. Whisk in 2 tablespoons Calvados, or more to taste, and sage. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve turkey with gravy.