Whole Roasted Turkey with Citrus Rosemary Salt

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Picture of Whole Roasted Turkey with Citrus Rosemary Salt Recipe 1 Video | Photo: Whole Roasted Turkey with Citrus Rosemary Salt Recipe
Rated 5 stars out of 5
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Total Time:
3 hr 40 min
Prep
25 min
Inactive
15 min
Cook
3 hr 0 min
Yield:
10 to 12 servings
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

Citrus Rosemary Salt:

  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup coarse salt

Roasted Turkeys:

  • 2 (8 to 10-pound) whole turkeys
  • 2 small whole onions, peeled
  • 2 carrots, cut in half
  • 2 celery stalks, cut in half
  • 1 quart chicken stock or broth
  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 8 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 lemons, halved
  • 4 large carrots, halved lengthwise
  • 8 celery stalks
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Turkey Gravy:

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

For the Citrus Rosemary Salt: In food processor, process all the ingredients. Pulse until well blended. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

For the Roasted Turkeys: Remove necks and giblets and put into a large saucepan. Add 2 onions, 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks and chicken stock. Bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat and let simmer until reduced to about 2 cups. Strain and reserve; this is the turkey stock that you will use for the gravy.

Wash the turkeys, inside and out, and dry well. Coat each turkey, inside and out, with 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Season each turkey on the outside with a tablespoon or two of the Citrus Rosemary Salt, pressing it in to adhere. Place 4 rosemary sprigs and 2 lemon halves inside the cavity of each turkey.

Arrange 4 of the halved carrots and 4 celery stalks on each of 2 half-sheet pans (use baking sheets with a lip). Position each turkey on top of the carrots and celery so that the turkey does not rest directly on the bottom of the pan. Drizzle turkeys with remaining olive oil.

Roast until an instant-read thermometer (inserted deep into the thigh but away from the bone) reads 165 degrees F and juices in the thigh run clear when pierced with a fork, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours; begin checking at 2 hours. Remove from the pans and let rest for 15 minutes before carving. Reserve pan juices for gravy.

While turkeys are resting, make the gravy. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour. Whisk over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until a smooth, blond-colored mixture is formed. Add the reserved turkey stock and pan juices and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and let simmer until thickened and ready to serve. Season, to taste.

Carve turkey and serve with gravy.

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Wine Suggestion for This Recipe

Merlot

Merlot

Jammy, earthy red wine

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 38 reviews

  • on November 20, 2011

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    This Turkey recipe is awesome! I use this recipe every year and it is always a hit!! Try brining the turkey the night before with salt, pepper, spices, lemons and oranges. So delicious :

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  • on January 29, 2011

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    This was the best turkey I have ever made!! My family didn't want me to change the traditional turkey recipe (bland and dry. There is always a ton of turkey left over and there was not one piece left. They loved it so much that they made me make it again for New Years Day (we always have family and friends over. Again not one morsel left. Delicious and moist. Definitely a keeper.

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  • on December 26, 2010

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    OMG, this recipe was awesome! It was the second time I ever cooked a turkey and I followed the recipe exactly and it was amazing. Everybody loved it. I am Puerto Rican and usually we cook with alot of garlic, adobo and sazon goya. Well, I told everybody I made an Italian Turkey and they were a little curious about that. Well, they loved it and told me it was slamming good! Thank you Michael for sharing your expertise.

    people found this review Helpful.
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