Golden Roast Turkey with Gravy & Stuffing

1. Around 2 hrs before you want to roast your turkey, take it out of the fridge and let it stand somewhere safe so it can come to room temperature. Take the giblets out of the turkey and rinse them.

2. While the turkey comes to room temperature, make a giblet stock. Fill your kettle and boil it. Peel and thickly slice the onion. Scrub and thickly slice 2 carrots. Pour 1 tbsp oil into a pan and warm over a medium-high heat. Add the giblets. Season with salt and pepper. Fry for 3-4 mins, turning, till browned.

3. Add the onion and carrots to the pan. Drop in the bouquet garni. Pour in 1 ltr hot water from the kettle. Bring to the boil, then cover the pan with a lid, reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 1 hr. When cooked, strain the stock into a jug. Top the stock up so it makes 900ml, if necessary.

4. While the stock simmers, make the lemon, rosemary and garlic butter. Finely grate the lemon zest into a bowl, then slice the lemon horizontally into thick rounds and spread them out in a large roasting tin. Set aside. Finely grate or crush 2 garlic cloves. Add to the bowl. Cut the remaining bulb in half horizontally and tuck inside the turkey’s body cavity. Finely chop the rosemary leaves and add to the bowl. Add 25g room temperature butter with a pinch of salt and pepper. Mash together with a fork. Set aside.

5. Preheat your oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/Gas 4. Weigh the turkey to check its exact weight. Pop the turkey on top of the lemons, breast-side down. Pour 500ml hot water from the kettle around the turkey. Roast on the middle shelf for 1 hr (this is the same, whether your bird weighs nearer 4kg or 5kg).

6. After 1 hr, take the turkey out of the oven and carefully turn it over so it’s breast-side up (protect your hands from the heat and have some sturdy spatulas to help turn it). Dot the lemon, rosemary and garlic butter over the top of the turkey. Use a sharp knife to slice through the skin between the legs and breast to allow the juices to drain out and help the thighs to cook. Insert the meat thermometer into a thigh. Top up the liquid in the tin with 250ml water. Return to the oven and roast for another 1 hr for a 5 kg turkey. If your turkey is closer to 4kg, roast for 45 mins.

7. When the turkey has 40 mins remaining, make the cranberry & apple stuffing. Fill and boil your kettle. Pour the stuffing mix into a bowl. Pour over 300ml hot water. Stir well and let the mix stand for 5 mins. Scoop the stuffing mixture into a small ovenproof dish and bake for 25-30 mins till browned and crisp. Remove from the oven and cover with foil. Set aside to keep warm.

8. Meanwhile, make the gravy. Melt the remaining 25g butter in a pan over a medium heat. Stir 2 tbsp cornflour into the melted butter and cook, stirring, for 2 mins. Slowly pour in the strained giblet stock and stir to incorporate. Bring the pan to a gentle simmer and cook for 15-20 mins, till the gravy has thickened, then set aside, lid on.

9. When the meat thermometer hits 60-65°C, transfer the turkey to a board, wrap loosely in foil and rest for 1 hr. Pour the roasting juices into a jug, discarding the lemons and garlic. Let it sit for 15-30 mins so the fat rises to the surface. Skim off the fat. Pour the juices into the gravy, stir and reheat. Serve the turkey with the gravy, the stuffing and the cranberry sauce.

10. Weight Check
For a 4kg turkey, the total cooking time is 1 hr 45 mins. A 5kg turkey will take 2 hrs. If it’s nearer 6kg, it will take 2 hrs 25 mins. For all weights, let the turkey rest for 1 hr afterwards, so it can keep cooking and reach the right temperature.