Perfect Roast Turkey
Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten.
Original recipe: httpss://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-turkey-recipe4-1943576
When it comes to classic, simple yet exceptional recipes, you can’t go wrong with Ina Garten, a.k.a. the Barefoot Contessa. And if you find yourself in charge of the turkey at Thanksgiving this year, classic and simple are the way to go. Unless you’ve done it before, don’t go crazy with grilling, smoking or deep frying a turkey. Here’s Ina’s recipe for the perfect roast turkey.
Servings 8 Servings
Ingredients
- 1/4 pound 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 lemon zested and juiced
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 fresh turkey 10 to 12 pounds
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large bunch fresh thyme
- 1 whole lemon halved
- 1 Spanish onion quartered
- 1 head garlic halved crosswise
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the zest and juice of the lemon and 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves to the butter mixture. Set aside.
- Take the giblets out of the turkey and wash the turkey inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the turkey in a large roasting pan. Salt and pepper the inside of the turkey cavity. Stuff the cavity with the thyme bunch, halved lemon, quartered onion and garlic. Brush the outside of the turkey with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the turkey.
- Roast the turkey about 2 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh. Remove the turkey to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil; let rest for 20 minutes.
- Carve the turkey and serve.
Notes
This is my go-to Thanksgiving Roasted Turkey recipe.