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A golden roasted turkey garnished with rosemary, lemon slices, roasted garlic, carrots, and onions sits on a platter near a window, with a dish of cooked vegetables in the background.
Penny Kovacs

Roast Turkey

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This Roast Turkey is a holiday staple! Made with a fresh or frozen (thawed) turkey, herbed butter, a hint of lemon, shallots and garlic. So easy to prepare and will wow your family and friends.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Other Time 20 minutes
Total Time3 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12-15 lb Turkey I like Grass Roots Coop, pasture raised
  • 1 cup Ghee I like Fourth and Heart
  • 1 tsp Thyme dried
  • 1 tsp Rosemary dried
  • 1 tsp Sage dried
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Black pepper
  • 1 head Garlic cut in half, skin left on
  • 1 whole Lemon Cut in half
  • 3 sprigs Fresh rosemary
  • 3 whole Shallot optional
  • 6 whole Carrots optional

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 325˚
  2. Remove the turkey from it's packaging, removing the neck and giblets.
  3. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels.
  4. In a small bowl add the ghee and all of the spices, mixing well.
  5. Carefully lift the turkey skin with your fingers, wearing gloves.
  6. Now spread half of the ghee mixture under the skin and the remaining ghee all over the outside of the turkey and underneath as well.
  7. Place the fresh rosemary sprigs and lemon halves inside the turkey.
  8. Place the turkey on your roasting pan and add the garlic halves to the pan.
  9. Cover loosely with foil.
  10. Roast for 1.5 hours without peeking! This recipe does not require basting. Trust me!
  11. Remove foil and return to oven and roast another 1 hour to 1.5 hours depending on the weight of your turkey. Roast until the breast at the thickest part reads 165˚ on a thermometer.
  12. Remove from oven and carefully lift the turkey to drain the juices from inside to use for gravy, if desired.
  13. Allow turkey to rest at least 20 minutes before carving.
  14. Enjoy!

Notes

You can add carrots or your favorite veggies around the turkey in the last hour of roasting if desired.  

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