Roast Turkey with Lemon and Chives
Recipe from Food & Wine

Grace Parisi blends ingredients into a butter that she rubs all over the turkey. In addition to this one with lemon, other creative ideas are Roast Turkey with Fried Sage and Pecans and Roast Turkey with Pickled Jalapeno-Paprika Gravy.


Roast Turkey with Lemon and Chives
Frances Janisch

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Servings: 12
Prep Time: 3 hrs 45 mins
Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins
 
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Ingredients
  • 1/4  cup
    plus 2 tablespoons snipped chives
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  • 2  sticks
    unsalted butter, softened
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  •  
    Finely grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon, plus 1 lemon, thinly sliced
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  •  
    Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
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  • 1/4  cup
    all-purpose flour
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  • 1  18-pound
    turkey
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  • carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces
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  • onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
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  • 4  cups
    Turkey Stock
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Directions
1.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, combine 1/4 cup of the chives with the butter, the lemon zest and juice, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper and pulse until smooth. Transfer 1/4 cup of the lemon-chive butter to a small bowl and stir in the flour; reserve.
2.
Beginning at the neck, gently separate the turkey skin from the breast and legs using your fingers. Season the turkey cavity with salt. Rub half of the lemon-chive butter from the food processor under the skin, spreading it over the breast and thighs.
3.
Set the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan and scatter the carrot, onion, and lemon slices in the pan; add 1 1/2 cups of water. Rub the remaining lemon-chive butter from the food processor all over the outside of the turkey. Roast on the bottom rack of the oven for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, adding 1 1/2 cups of water to the roasting pan and tenting the turkey with foil halfway through roasting. The turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted deep in the thigh registers 170 degrees. Uncover the turkey and transfer to a carving board; let rest for 30 minutes.
4.
Meanwhile, strain the pan juices into a large measuring cup; discard the solids. Spoon off the fat and discard it. (You should have about 2 cups of defatted pan juices.) In a large saucepan, boil the turkey stock until it is reduced to 3 cups, about 15 minutes. Set the roasting pan over 2 burners on high heat; add the reduced stock and scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom and sides of the pan. Strain the stock into the saucepan. Add the pan juices and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the reserved butter-and-flour mixture and simmer over moderate heat, whisking constantly. Cook until thickened, about 4 minutes, and season the gravy with salt. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of chives. Carve the turkey and serve, passing the gravy at the table.

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