Best 13 Turkey With Oranges And Lemons Recipes

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Cooking turkey with oranges and lemons is a delectable and flavorful culinary experience that combines the richness of the turkey with the citrusy zest of the fruits. This dish captivates taste buds with a symphony of sweet, tangy, and savory notes, making it a perfect centerpiece for special occasions or a delightful meal to savor with loved ones.

Here are our top 13 tried and tested recipes!

HAPPY ORANGE TURKEY



Happy Orange Turkey image

Here's the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast. Champagne and oranges flavor this special bird that will become one of your favorite turkey recipes ever. -Tara Baier, Menomonie, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h15m

Yield 24 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

3 medium oranges
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 small onion, cut into wedges
4 fresh rosemary sprigs
2 fresh thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Turkey-size oven roasting bag
1-1/2 cups Champagne
1/2 cup orange juice

Steps:

  • Finely grate zest from oranges. Cut the fruit into wedges. Combine softened butter and orange zest. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from the turkey; rub butter mixture under the skin., Pat turkey dry. Combine the garlic powder, salt and pepper; rub over the outside and inside of turkey. Drizzle with melted butter. Place the oranges, onion, rosemary and thyme inside the cavity. Skewer turkey openings; tie drumsticks together., Place flour in oven bag and shake to coat. Place oven bag in a roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, in bag. Pour Champagne and orange juice over turkey. Cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag; close bag with tie provided., Bake at 325° for 3-3/4 to 4-1/4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°. Remove turkey to a serving platter and keep warm. Let stand for 20 minutes before carving. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 374 calories, Fat 19g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 156mg cholesterol, Sodium 238mg sodium, Carbohydrate 3g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 43g protein.

ROASTED CITRUS & HERB TURKEY



Roasted Citrus & Herb Turkey image

Thanksgiving has never been the same since I tried this recipe. I have made it for the past three years, and it never fails to impress both in presentation and taste. This is a true showstopper! -Nancy M. Niemerg, Dieterich, Illinois

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h

Yield 16 servings (2 cups gravy).

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/4 cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
1 large onion, quartered
1 medium orange, quartered
1 medium lemon, quartered
3 fresh rosemary sprigs
3 fresh sage sprigs
3 cups chicken broth, divided
3 to 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon browning sauce, optional

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°. Mix butter and Italian seasoning., Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side up; pat dry. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub half of the butter mixture under the skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Rub cavity with salt and pepper; fill with onion, orange, lemon and herbs. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Melt remaining butter mixture; brush over outside of turkey. Add 2 cups broth to roasting pan., Roast, uncovered, until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, 3-1/2-4 hours, basting occasionally with pan drippings. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.), Remove turkey from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes before carving., Pour pan drippings into a small saucepan; skim fat. Mix flour, remaining broth and, if desired, browning sauce until smooth; whisk into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Serve with turkey.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 500 calories, Fat 24g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 223mg cholesterol, Sodium 653mg sodium, Carbohydrate 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 64g protein.

CITRUS AND HERB TURKEY



Citrus and Herb Turkey image

Roasted with orange, lemon, garlic, and fresh sage and thyme in its cavity, this simple citrus and herb turkey makes a spectacular Thanksgiving centerpiece. An easy pan gravy is the finishing touch.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dinner Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 whole turkey (about 14 pounds), patted dry
2 tablespoons coarse salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 orange, halved
1 lemon, halved
1 small yellow onion, peeled and quartered
1 head garlic, halved
6 sprigs thyme
2 sprigs sage
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups chicken stock, warm
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 with rack in lower third position.
  • Season cavity of turkey with 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stuff cavity with orange, lemon, onion, garlic, and herbs. Tie legs with twine and transfer turkey to a rack set inside a roasting pan.
  • Rub skin with olive oil and season with remaining salt and pepper.
  • Pour 2 cups chicken stock into roasting pan and transfer to oven. Roast turkey for 2 1/2 hours or until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast registers 165 degrees. After first hour of roasting, baste turkey every 30 minutes, and tent with foil if skin becomes deep golden brown before turkey is cooked.
  • Remove turkey from oven and transfer to a carving board. Let stand at least 15 minutes.
  • Place roasting pan on stovetop over medium-high heat and bring pan drippings and remaining 1 cup chicken stock to a simmer. Combine milk and flour in a mason jar and shake vigorously to combine. Whisk milk mixture into gravy and simmer, whisking constantly, until gravy thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.
  • Carve turkey and serve with gravy.

PERFECT CITRUS TURKEY AND GRAVY



Perfect Citrus Turkey and Gravy image

Provided by Danny Boome

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 8 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (12-pound) turkey, with giblets (see cooking notes at bottom of recipe)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened, plus 1 tablespoon
2 lemons, zested
1/2 cup chopped chives
2 tablespoons coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 small orange, halved
1 small grapefruit, halved
1 cup white wine
2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Steps:

  • Take the turkey out of the refrigerator and leave it to come to room temperature, about 30 minutes prior to preparing and cooking. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  • In a mixing bowl, add the 1/2 cup softened butter, lemon zest and chopped chives. Halve the lemons and squeeze the juice of 1 lemon half into the butter. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Prepare the turkey: Remove the inner packet of giblets from the cavity and set aside.
  • Run your fingers underneath the skin of the breast to make a little pocket between the skin and the flesh. Using your fingers, scoop up some of the lemon-chive butter and push the butter under the skin, filling up the pockets. Do the same thing on the legs. Once each pocket has been filled, take the rest of the butter and rub it all over the outside of the bird. Sprinkle about a tablespoon and a half of coarse salt on top.
  • Insert the halved lemons, orange and grapefruit into the cavity of the turkey. Insert as much of the citrus as you can. Give each piece a little squeeze as you insert them to get the juices distributed. (You may have to leave some out depending on the size of the cavity. Use any extra citrus for garnish later.)
  • Remove the giblets from the packet, rinse and pat dry. Place the giblets on the bottom of a large roasting pan. Place the turkey on top of the giblets. Tuck the wings under the turkey.
  • Place the turkey in a preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes. Then, turn down the heat to 350 degrees F and roast for about another 2 hours, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 175 to 180 degrees F. (The general rule is to cook a turkey about 15 minutes per pound.)
  • Remove the bird from the pan onto a carving board or platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Allow it to rest for 15 minutes before carving.
  • Place the roasting pan over low heat on the stovetop. Add white wine and deglaze the pan, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour in the chicken stock. Whisk the cornstarch into it. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and the Dijon mustard. Whisk well to combine. Strain the gravy into a small saucepan and simmer over low heat until thick and smooth, about 8 minutes.
  • Bring your turkey to room temperature to ensure that the bird will cook evenly.
  • Stuffing a turkey with fruit keep the bird moist and acts as a secondary cooking agent. As the juice of the fruit steams inside the cavity, it helps cook the bird from the inside. The juices also help to flavor the pan juices used for making the gravy.
  • Stuffing butter between the skin and the flesh, keep the meat moist and flavorful. The butter and salt on the outside help create a tasty, crispy skin.
  • I like to use the giblets as a platform for the bird. It stops the bottom of the bird from burning and adds flavor to the pan juices.
  • A good rule for roasting times is to plan on roasting a turkey for about 15 minutes per pound.
  • A meat thermometer is the best tool for figuring out if your turkey is fully cooked.

ROASTED TURKEY A L'ORANGE



Roasted Turkey a l'Orange image

My niece says this is THE best turkey she's ever had-she even requests it in the middle of summer! -Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 4h10m

Yield 28 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 17

1 whole garlic bulb, cloves separated and peeled
1 large navel orange
1/4 cup orange marmalade
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 turkey (14 pounds)
4 celery ribs, quartered
4 large carrots, quartered
1 large onion, quartered
1 large potato, peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes

Steps:

  • Mince four garlic cloves; transfer to a small bowl. Juice half of the orange; add to bowl. Stir in the marmalade, lemon juice, honey, parsley, paprika, oregano, salt, thyme and pepper. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from the turkey; rub 1/2 cup marmalade mixture under the skin., Thinly slice remaining orange half; place under the skin. Brush turkey with remaining marmalade mixture. Place remaining garlic cloves inside the cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Combine the celery, carrots, onion and potatoes in a roasting pan. Place turkey, breast side up, over vegetables., Bake at 325° for 3-1/2 to 4 hours or until a thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 207 calories, Fat 6g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 86mg cholesterol, Sodium 123mg sodium, Carbohydrate 4g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

ROAST TURKEY WITH ORANGE AND SAGE



Roast Turkey With Orange and Sage image

Roast turkey with white wine and a lot of butter, too, as it happens. The butter, massaged under the bird's skin, does a lot to help keep the breast meat moist, and the juice and wine in the pan below the bird create a deliciously steamy environment for the roasting. The combination leads to an interesting outcome: a bird that crisps up nicely not at the beginning of cooking, but at the end. The sweet-savory drippings make for excellent gravy.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Categories     dinner, roasts, main course

Time 3h

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 12- to 14-pound turkey, giblets removed
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
Zest of 1 orange
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1/2 of a 750-milliliter bottle dry white wine
2 cups orange juice
10 to 12 fresh sage leaves

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pat turkey dry with paper towel and place it on a rack in a roasting pan. In a small bowl or on a clean cutting board, mash the butter together with the orange zest, sage, garlic, salt and pepper to create a paste. Lift the turkey's skin at the neck and gently use your hand to separate skin from breast meat. Rub about half of the compound butter under the skin, covering the breast meat. Rub the rest of the butter over the skin of the turkey and season with a little more salt and pepper.
  • Fold the wings of the turkey under the bird, and tie its legs together with butcher's twine. Pour the wine and orange juice into the roasting pan, scatter the sage leaves over the liquid and carefully slide the pan into the oven.
  • Roast for about 2 to 3 hours, basting bird every 30 minutes with drippings. Start checking the bird 1 hour and 45 minutes into cooking, and tent it with foil if skin is turning too dark. Cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 165 degrees. Transfer to a cutting board or platter and allow to rest at least 30 minutes before carving.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 749, UnsaturatedFat 17 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 33 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 92 grams, SaturatedFat 12 grams, Sodium 1037 milligrams, Sugar 6 grams, TransFat 1 gram

CITRUS TURKEY BRINE



Citrus Turkey Brine image

A great citrus brine recipe. This will leave your Turkey very moist. You could also use it on other poultry in smaller amounts.

Provided by MPRADO

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 20m

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup salt
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic
4 bay leaves
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 ½ gallons cold water

Steps:

  • Rub salt onto your turkey, and place remaining salt, lemons, oranges, onion, garlic, bay leaves, thyme and pepper into a large pot. Place the turkey in the pot, and fill with water. Refrigerate overnight. Discard brine after removing turkey.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 5.7 calories, Carbohydrate 1.3 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 0 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 0.2 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, Sodium 6239.2 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

ROASTED ORANGE TURKEY



Roasted Orange Turkey image

I like to bake my turkey a little different every year, so I came up with an orange mixture to rub under the skin. It gives the meat a delicate orange flavor that tastes even better the next day. -Brenda Brooks, Bowie, Maryland

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 3h20m

Yield 12 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 turkey (12 to 14 pounds)
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 large navel orange, quartered
1 large apple, quartered
1 small onion, quartered
1 cup unsweetened apple juice
1/2 cup orange juice

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325°. Place turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. In a small bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, orange zest and ginger. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub some of the butter mixture under skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks., Rub remaining butter mixture inside turkey cavity; fill with orange, apple and onion. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Carefully pour juices over turkey., Bake, uncovered, 3 to 3-3/4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly., Cover and let stand 20 minutes before carving. Discard fruit and onion from cavity. Skim fat and thicken pan juices if desired.

Nutrition Facts :

TURKEY WITH HERBES DE PROVENCE AND CITRUS



Turkey with Herbes de Provence and Citrus image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis Bio & Top Recipes

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h15m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 (14 to 15-pound) turkey, neck and giblets reserved
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 onion, cut into wedges
6 fresh rosemary sprigs
6 fresh sage sprigs
6 fresh oregano sprigs
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons herbes de Provence
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
6 cups canned low-salt chicken broth (approximate amount)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

Steps:

  • To make the turkey: Position the rack in the lowest third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
  • Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the turkey on a rack set inside a large roasting pan. Place the orange and lemon wedges, onion, and 2 sprigs of each fresh herb in the main turkey cavity. Tie the legs together to hold the shape of the turkey. Stir 2 tablespoons of butter, the herbes de Provence, oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of each the salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat just until the butter melts. Rub the butter mixture all over the turkey and between the turkey breast meat and skin. Place the turkey neck and giblets in roasting pan. (Recipe can be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before roasting.)
  • Cover the turkey breast with foil. Roast for 20 minutes. Pour 3 cups of broth into the pan and stir to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining sprigs of fresh herbs to the pan. Roast the turkey for 40 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Remove the foil from the turkey; pour 1 more cup of broth into the pan. Continue roasting the turkey until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F to 175 degrees F or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 hour and 30 minutes longer. Transfer the turkey to a platter and tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes while preparing the gravy.
  • To make the gravy: Strain the turkey pan juices from the roasting pan through a sieve and into a 4-cup glass measuring cup; discard the solids. Spoon off the fat from atop the pan juices. Add enough chicken broth, about 1 to 2 cups, to the pan juices to measure 4 cups total. Melt the remaining butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the broth. Simmer until the gravy thickens slightly, whisking often, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the turkey with the gravy.

TRIPLE CITRUS BUTTERED TURKEY



Triple Citrus Buttered Turkey image

Provided by Sandra Lee

Categories     main-dish

Time 5h45m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

One 12 to 14-pound frozen turkey, thawed
1 lemon
1 lime
1 orange
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 leeks, green parts only

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Let the turkey sit at room temperature, covered, for 30 minutes to come to temperature before preparing.
  • Zest and juice the lemon, lime and orange. Reserve the juice for another use and set the rinds aside. Mix the butter with the citrus zest and salt and pepper to taste. Rub the seasoned butter all over the turkey, inside and out, as well as under the skin. Put the citrus rinds and leeks into the cavity. Tie up the legs and put the turkey, breast-side up, onto the rack in a roasting pan. Pour 2 cups water into the pan and roast, basting with the pan juices every 15 to 20 minutes. Cook until the internal temperature taken from the thickest part of the thigh is 170 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes per pound. Remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving. Reserve about 1 1/2 cups turkey and 1/2 cup of the pan drippings for another use if desired, such as the Round 2 Recipe Thanksgiving Pie.

ORANGE TURKEY BRINE



Orange Turkey Brine image

Adding this twist to your Thanksgiving turkey will 'ooh' and 'aah' your guests.

Provided by TIMP132

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 2h25m

Yield 1

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
3 cloves garlic
2 bay leaves
1 cup kosher salt
1 ½ gallons water

Steps:

  • Combine the orange juice concentrate, orange slices, lemon slices, lime slices, thyme, pepper, garlic, bay leaves, salt, and water in a large stockpot; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
  • Wash and dry your turkey. Make sure you have removed the innards. Place the turkey, breast down, into the brine. Make sure that the cavity gets filled. Place the bucket in the refrigerator. Allow turkey to marinate 1 to 2 days before cooking. Remove the turkey carefully. Drain and discard the excess brine and pat dry.
  • Cook the turkey as desired reserving the drippings for gravy. Keep in mind that brined turkeys cook 20 to 30 minutes faster.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 697.4 calories, Carbohydrate 176.7 g, Fat 2 g, Fiber 17.2 g, Protein 13.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 91282.3 mg, Sugar 142.6 g

TURKEY WITH ORANGE SAUCE



Turkey with Orange Sauce image

I found this recipe in one of my mother's cookbooks. It's a quick way to fix turkey. My family likes it with rice and a tossed salad. -Gaye O'Dell of Binghamton, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 pound turkey breast tenderloins
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 cup orange juice
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons butter

Steps:

  • Sprinkle turkey with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; place in a microwave-safe 11x7-in. dish. Cover, venting one corner, and microwave on high for 3 minutes. , Turn turkey; cover and microwave 1 to 1-1/2 minutes longer or until turkey is no longer pink and a thermometer reads 170°., In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the cornstarch, brown sugar, orange juice, lemon juice, butter and remaining salt. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 to 1-1/2 minutes or until thickened; stir until smooth. Serve with turkey.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 189 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 75mg cholesterol, Sodium 370mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 28g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

CITRUS & THYME TURKEY



Citrus & thyme turkey image

Try this traditional based turkey with its easy citrus twist that transforms it into a Christmas Day showstopper

Provided by Angela Nilsen

Categories     Dinner, Main course

Time 4h30m

Number Of Ingredients 15

4.5-5.6kg/10-12lb turkey , thawed if frozen, giblets removed
2x bunches of lemon or regular thyme
1 orange
1 lemon
8 tbsp olive oil
Lightly spiced Christmas stuffing (see 'Goes well with' below)
4 bay leaves
4 carrots , halved lengthways and cut into chunks
1 large onion , roughly chopped
50g butter , softened
300ml/½pint red wine
1 heaped tbsp redcurrant jelly
600ml turkey or chicken stock
10 small red onions , peeled and quartered lengthways but still attached at the root
2 onion squash or 2 small butternut squash (total weight about 500g/1lb 2oz), cut into thin wedges and peeled

Steps:

  • Chop the leafy tops of the thyme but not the hard, woody branch ends (save these for the cavity). Finely grate the orange and lemon zest into a small bowl and mix with the chopped thyme, olive oil and seasoning. Mash the mix into the oil with the back of a metal spoon (or use a pestle and mortar) to release its flavour. Set aside to infuse.
  • Preheat the oven to fan 170C/conventional 190C/gas 5. Wash the turkey inside and out and dry well with kitchen paper. To make carving easier, you can now cut out the wishbone, but it's not essential.
  • Put the reserved third of the stuffing in the neck end of the turkey and push it towards the breast. Don't overfill, as the stuffing will expand during cooking. Secure the neck end flap with a small metal skewer. Weigh the stuffed turkey and calculate the cooking time - allow 18 minutes per 450g/1lb.
  • Season the turkey generously with salt and pepper inside and out. Halve the orange and lemon and put in the cavity (squeezing the fruit as it goes in) with the thyme branches and two of the bay leaves. Tie the turkey legs together to give the bird a good shape.
  • Throw the chopped carrots and onion and remaining bay leaves into a large roasting tin. Sit the turkey on top of the vegetables, smear the butter over the skin and cover with a loose tent of foil. Roast the turkey for the calculated time, basting with the pan juices every hour.
  • Meanwhile, tip the red onions and squash into a shallow roasting tray and toss in half of the thyme oil, making sure you get it right into the cuts in the onions. Set the tray aside.
  • Half an hour before the end of the turkey's cooking time, whip off the foil and leave the bird to brown. After 15 minutes, drizzle the turkey with the remaining thyme oil.
  • To test if the turkey is cooked, insert a skewer into the thickest part of a thigh - the juices should run clear. If they are still pink, cook for a further 20-30 minutes and test again. Remove the turkey from the oven and turn the oven up to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Transfer theturkey to a serving platter, cover tightly with foil and leave to rest while you finish off the vegetables and trimmings.
  • Put the red onions and squash in the oven and roast for 30-40 minutes. At the same time, roast the bacon-wrapped sausages (see Lightly spiced Christmas stuffing, right) for 30 minutes. Now make the gravy. Discard any fat from the roasting tin. Stir the wine and redcurrant jelly into the carrots and onion in the tin. Bring to the boil and boil rapidly for 8-10 minutes to reduce by half. Scrape the sticky bits off the bottom of the tin with a wooden spoon as the gravy boils. Pour in the stock and simmer for 10 minutes until you have a dark, tasty gravy, adding salt and pepper to taste. Strain the gravy into a pan (discard the vegetables), bring back to the boil and serve in a warm jug.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 572 calories, Fat 23 grams fat, SaturatedFat 7 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 11 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 2 grams sugar, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 75 grams protein, Sodium 0.64 milligram of sodium

Tips:

  • Choose the Right Turkey: Select a fresh or thawed turkey that is the appropriate size for your gathering. A good rule of thumb is to allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
  • Prepare the Turkey: Rinse the turkey inside and out with cold water and pat it dry. Remove any giblets or excess fat. Truss the turkey to help it cook evenly.
  • Roast the Turkey: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C) and place the turkey breast-side up on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Roast the turkey for approximately 13-15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh.
  • Baste the Turkey: Baste the turkey with the citrus marinade every 30-45 minutes during roasting to keep it moist and flavorful.
  • Make the Citrus Marinade: Combine orange juice, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, herbs, and spices in a bowl. Whisk to blend well.
  • Carve the Turkey: Once the turkey is cooked through, let it rest for 10-15 minutes before carving. Carve the turkey into slices and serve with your favorite sides.

Conclusion:

This flavorful turkey recipe is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. The combination of zesty citrus flavors and tender, juicy turkey is irresistible. By following these tips and cooking the turkey properly, you can ensure that your turkey will be perfectly cooked and delicious. So gather your family and friends, and enjoy this delightful turkey dinner!

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