Roast Turkey with Cream Gravy

Ingredients for Roast Turkey with Cream Gravy

• 1 (12-to 14-pound) turkey, neck and giblets (excluding liver) reserved for turkey stock

• 600ml water, divided

• About 950ml hot turkey giblet stock

• Melted unsalted butter if necessary

• 5 tablespoons plain flour

• 180ml double cream

• Equipment: a 17- by 14-inch flameproof roasting pan with a flat rack

• kitchen string

• a 2-quart measuring cup or a fat separator

How to make Roast Turkey with Cream Gravy

Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Put turkey on rack in roasting pan and season inside and out with 1 tablespoon salt and 2 teaspoons pepper. Fold neck skin under body, then tuck wing tips under breast and tie drumsticks together with string. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 232°C with rack in lower third.

Add 240ml water to pan and roast, without basting, rotating pan halfway through, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into fleshy part of each thigh (test both; do not touch bone) registers 165 to 77°C, 1 3/4 to 2 hours total.

Carefully tilt turkey so juices from inside large cavity run into pan. Transfer turkey to a platter (reserve juices in roasting pan) and let rest, uncovered, 30 minutes (temperature of thigh meat will rise to 170 to 79°C). Discard string.

Strain pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into 2-quart measure and skim off fat (or use a fat separator), reserving fat. Straddle roasting pan across 2 burners, then add remaining 350ml water and deglaze pan by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Strain through sieve into measuring cup containing pan juices. Add enough turkey giblet stock to pan juices to bring total to 1200ml .

Put 80ml reserved fat (if there is less, add melted butter) in a 4-quart heavy saucepan and whisk in flour. Cook roux over medium heat, whisking, 3 minutes. Add stock mixture in a fast stream, whisking constantly, then add cream, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bring to a boil, whisking, then stir in any turkey juices from platter and simmer 5 minutes.

Serve turkey with gravy.

Lagier Meredith Mount Veeder Napa Valley Syrah '06

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.