Recipe: Slow-Roasted Turkey with Herb Salt
(CBS News) Reprinted courtesy of Food & Wine Magazine.
"The greatest poultry I've ever had was in France, where it's dry-brined to concentrate the flavor," says contributor Frank Stitt.
Slow-Roasted Turkey with Herb Salt
Serves: 8
Cooking time: 5.5 hours, plus 2 days
dry-brining
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
1/2 tablespoon dried savory
1 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
One 14-pound organic turkey, rinsed and patted dry
1 onion, quartered
1 celery rib, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 stick unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Directions:
Set a rack over a rimmed baking sheet. In a small bowl, mix the salt and pepper with all of the dried herbs and the lemon zest. Rub the herb salt all over the turkey cavity. Transfer the turkey to the baking sheet and refrigerate uncovered for 2 days.
Transfer the turkey to a clean rack set over a clean baking sheet; let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Stuff the turkey with the
onion, celery and garlic. Tuck the wings under the breast and tie the legs
together with kitchen twine. Brush the turkey all over with the butter. Put it
in the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 275°. Roast the turkey
for about 3 hours and 15 minutes, basting occasionally, until an instant-read
thermometer inserted in the inner thigh registers 165°. Cover the turkey with
foil and let rest for 1 hour. Carve and serve.
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