SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY WITH GRAVY

SLOW-ROASTED TURKEY WITH GRAVY image

Yield 10 Servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

Turkey
3 med onions , chopped medium
3 med celery ribs , chopped medium
2 med carrots , peeled and chopped medium
5 sprigs fresh thyme
5 med garlic cloves , peeled and halved
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 whole bone-in, skin-on turkey breast (5 to 7 pounds), trimmed of excess fat and patted dry with paper towels (see note)
4 pounds turkey drumsticks and thighs, trimmed of excess fat and patted dry with paper towels (see note)
3tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
1 T table salt
2 t ground black pepper
Gravy
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
3 T unsalted butter
3 T unbleached all-purpose flour
2 bay leaves

Steps:

1. For Turkey: Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 275F. Arrange onions, celery, carrots, thyme, and garlic in even layer on rimmed baking sheet. Pour broth into baking sheet. Place wire rack on top of vegetables (rack will rest on vegetables, not on bottom of baking sheet). 2. Brush turkey pieces on all sides with melted butter. Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over turkey. Place breast skin-side down and drumsticks and thighs skin-side up on rack on vegetable-filled baking sheet, leaving at least ¼" between pieces. 3. Roast turkey pieces 1 hour. Using wads of paper towels, turn turkey breast skin-side up. Continue roasting until instant-read thermometer registers 160F when inserted in thickest part of breast and 170 to 175F in thickest part of thighs, 1 to 2 hrs longer. Remove baking sheet from oven and transfer rack with turkey to second baking sheet. Allow pieces to rest at least 30 minutes or up to 1.5 hours. 4. For Gravy: Strain vegetables and liquid from baking sheet through colander set in large bowl. Press solids with back of spatula to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard vegetables. Transfer liquid in bowl to 4-cup liquid measuring cup. Add chicken broth to measuring cup (you should have about 3 cups liquid). 5. In medium saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat; when foaming subsides, add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until flour is dark golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Whisk in broth mixture and bay leaves and gradually bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until gravy is thick and reduced to 2 cups, 15 to 20 mins. Discard bay leaves. Remove gravy from heat and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Keep gravy warm. 6. To Serve: Heat oven to 500F. Place baking sheet with turkey in oven. Roast until skin is golden brown and crisp, about 15 mins. Remove baking sheet from oven, transfer turkey to cutting board, and let rest 20 min. Carve and serve.