ROAST TURKEY WITH BERRY-MINT SAUCE AND BLACK WALNUTS

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Roast Turkey With Berry-Mint Sauce and Black Walnuts image

The flavor of heritage turkey breeds is richer and more pronounced than that of commercial turkeys sold at supermarkets nationwide. Put plainly, heritage breeds taste more like turkey. Heritage birds are raised outside, pecking at a varied diet. They tend to have meatier thighs and smaller breasts, and a higher ratio of dark meat to white meat. The Onondaga tribe, among others from the Northeastern United States, would have been able to serve them with forest berries, perking up the rich, dark meat with color and flavor. Sparked with mint, this berry sauce is bright and fruity, with just enough acid to complement the richness of the turkey.

Provided by Sean Sherman

Categories     dinner, poultry, roasts, main course

Time 2h

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 (10- to 12-pound) turkey, preferably a heritage breed
Coarse sea salt
1 bunch fresh sage
3 cups wild rice cooking liquid (reserved from Wild Rice and Berries With Popped Rice, if desired) or turkey stock, plus more as needed
6 medium leeks, white and pale green portions only, halved lengthwise, cut into 2-inch pieces and rinsed clean
2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1/2 cup maple syrup, plus more as needed
3 cups fresh raspberries or blackberries
3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus more as needed
1/2 cup black walnuts (see Note), lightly toasted and chopped
Pea shoots or microgreens, for garnish

Steps:

  • Remove giblets from the turkey cavity and discard or reserve for another use. Pat the turkey dry using paper towels. Rub the turkey all over with 1/2 teaspoon salt per pound of turkey. Tuck the sage sprigs inside the turkey cavity.
  • Set the turkey on a baking sheet, breast-side up. Place in the refrigerator, uncovered, for at least 4 hours and up to 6 hours to dry out the skin (this will help it crisp when it roasts).
  • When you are ready to cook the turkey, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
  • Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Pour the rice cooking liquid or stock into a large roasting pan and add the leeks. Place a roasting rack on top, then transfer the turkey to the roasting rack, breast-side up, and tuck the wings underneath. Brush the exposed turkey generously with the oil. Transfer to the oven and roast, 30 minutes. Baste the turkey with the pan juices, adding rice cooking liquid or stock as needed to make sure there is a 1/2-inch layer of liquid at the bottom of the pan.
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue roasting, basting every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh reaches 165 degrees, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. If the skin begins to darken too much, tent the turkey loosely with aluminum foil. Brush 1/4 cup maple syrup over the turkey. Transfer turkey to a cutting board to rest for 30 minutes before carving.
  • Transfer 3/4 cup of the turkey pan juices to a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the raspberries or blackberries, cranberries and the mint to the saucepan, stir with a wooden spoon to combine, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have popped open, the raspberries have fallen apart and the liquid is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup maple syrup, then add maple syrup and mint according to taste.
  • Carve the turkey. Smear some berry sauce on each plate. Top with the leeks then the turkey. Garnish with walnuts and pea shoots or microgreens, and pass more berry sauce alongside.

Raja Ali Hassan
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Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!


Phoolmaya Soni
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I'll definitely be making this recipe again for my next holiday dinner.


Marsh_xoxo
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This is the best turkey recipe I've ever tried.


Kaelin Kennedy
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I would give this recipe a 5 out of 5 stars.


Greg Hurst
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This turkey recipe is a family favorite.


Juma Jin
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I've made this recipe several times and it's always a hit.


Reymoh Omondi
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This recipe is a must-try for any turkey lover!


James Leslie
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The turkey was moist and juicy, and the berry-mint sauce was the perfect complement.


Siddharth Singh
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This turkey recipe is a great way to impress your guests.


MD.Redoan Islam
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I would definitely recommend this recipe to anyone looking for a new way to cook turkey.


Jaxon Doan
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This recipe is easy to follow and the end result is a delicious and impressive dish.


Salman Malik
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The black walnuts add a nice touch of crunch and flavor to the dish.


Shaki wa Cedra
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The berry-mint sauce is a great way to add a pop of flavor to the turkey.


Lucretia Benjamin
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This turkey recipe is a great way to change up your traditional Thanksgiving dinner.


Atolagbe Al-ameen
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I would definitely make this recipe again for a special occasion.


Gustavo Balthar
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This recipe is a bit time-consuming, but it's worth the effort. The end result is a delicious and impressive dish.


Tafari rochester
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I followed the recipe exactly and the turkey turned out perfectly cooked. It was moist and juicy, with a crispy skin.


Hamadard
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The black walnuts added a nice crunchy texture to the dish. They also gave it a slightly nutty flavor.


otome g1rl
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I was a bit skeptical about the berry-mint sauce, but it was actually really good! It paired perfectly with the turkey and added a refreshing flavor.


The_PHOENIX _GAMER
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This turkey recipe is a keeper! The berry-mint sauce and black walnuts add a unique and delicious flavor to the turkey. I highly recommend trying this recipe for your next holiday dinner.


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