ROAST TURKEY WITH HERB BUTTER AND CARAMELIZED-ONION GRAVY

Steps:

• For gravy base:.
• Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onions and sauté until deep brown, about 40 minutes.
• Mix in rosemary and thyme, then flour; stir 1 minute.
• Add vinegar and honey; simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.).
• For turkey:.
• Mix butter and herbs in small bowl.
• Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry.
• Place on rack set in large roasting pan. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper.
• Starting at neck end, slide hand between skin and breast meat to loosen skin. Spread 1/4 cup herb butter over breast meat under skin. Rub remaining butter over outside of turkey.
• Place turkey parts and onion quarters in pan around turkey. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.).
• Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 350°F.
• If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing loosely into main cavity and neck cavity.
• Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Roast turkey uncovered 1 hour.
• Tent turkey breast and tops of drumsticks loosely with foil; roast 1 hour longer.
• Add 1 cup broth, herb sprigs, and bay leaf to drippings in pan. Celsius.
• ontinue to roast until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, basting with 3/4 cup broth and pan juices every 30 minutes, about 2 hours 30 minutes longer for unstuffed and 3 hours longer for stuffed.
• Transfer turkey to platter; let stand 30 minutes (internal temperature will increase 5 to 10 degrees).
• Strain pan juices into 8-cup measuring cup; spoon fat off top.
• Heat gravy base over medium heat.
• Whisk in flour, then pan juices. Boil until gravy is reduced to 7 cups, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve turkey with gravy.