Roast Spiced Turkey
Photo: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker
Notes: You can roast the turkey with just a sheen of oil, or you can add spices for bolder flavor. We've adapted the seasoning rub that Gayle Pirie and John Clark, chef-owners of Foreign Cinema in San Francisco, use on chicken. You can prepare the turkey through step 1 up to 1 day ahead; cover and chill.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Remove and discard leg truss from turkey. Pull off and discard any lumps of fat. Remove giblets and neck; save for gravy if desired. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. If using spice rub, rub it generously over skin and inside both neck and body cavities. Brush bird with enough oil to coat.
Step 2
2
Place turkey, breast up, on a V-shaped rack in a 12- by 17-inch roasting pan (pan should be large enough that turkey fits inside).
Step 3
3
Roast in a 325° regular or convection oven, basting occasionally with oil, or pan drippings if using spice rub, until a thermometer inserted through thickest part of breast to the bone registers 160°, 2 to 3 hours.
Step 4
4
Transfer turkey to a platter. Let rest in a warm place at least 30 minutes, then carve. When you remove the legs, if meat around thigh joints is still too pink, cut drumsticks from thighs and put thighs in a shallow pan in a 450° oven until no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 5
5
Spice Rub: In a 6- to 8-inch frying pan over medium heat, stir 1 tablespoon fennel seeds until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Pour into a blender and whirl until finely ground. Add 3/4 teaspoon hot chili flakes and whirl until coarsely ground. Pour into a small bowl and mix with 3 tablespoons Madras or regular curry powder, 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon paprika, and 1 1/2 tablespoons salt. Makes about 1/2 cup.
Step 6
6
Nutritional analysis per 1/4 pound boned cooked turkey with skin, based on percentages of white and dark meat in an average bird.
Ingredients
1 turkey (14 to 18 lb.)
Spice rub (optional; recipe follows)
1/3 to 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Directions
Step 1
1
Remove and discard leg truss from turkey. Pull off and discard any lumps of fat. Remove giblets and neck; save for gravy if desired. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. If using spice rub, rub it generously over skin and inside both neck and body cavities. Brush bird with enough oil to coat.
Step 2
2
Place turkey, breast up, on a V-shaped rack in a 12- by 17-inch roasting pan (pan should be large enough that turkey fits inside).
Step 3
3
Roast in a 325° regular or convection oven, basting occasionally with oil, or pan drippings if using spice rub, until a thermometer inserted through thickest part of breast to the bone registers 160°, 2 to 3 hours.
Step 4
4
Transfer turkey to a platter. Let rest in a warm place at least 30 minutes, then carve. When you remove the legs, if meat around thigh joints is still too pink, cut drumsticks from thighs and put thighs in a shallow pan in a 450° oven until no longer pink, 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 5
5
Spice Rub: In a 6- to 8-inch frying pan over medium heat, stir 1 tablespoon fennel seeds until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Pour into a blender and whirl until finely ground. Add 3/4 teaspoon hot chili flakes and whirl until coarsely ground. Pour into a small bowl and mix with 3 tablespoons Madras or regular curry powder, 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon paprika, and 1 1/2 tablespoons salt. Makes about 1/2 cup.
Step 6
6
Nutritional analysis per 1/4 pound boned cooked turkey with skin, based on percentages of white and dark meat in an average bird.
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