
Classic Roast British Turkey
with all the trimmings.
Serves 12
Ingredients
Stuffing:
- 30ml/2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 50g/2oz dried cranberries
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 175g/6oz fresh white breadcrumbs
- 200g/7oz ready cooked and peeled chestnuts, chopped
- 60ml/4 tbsp each chopped fresh sage and fresh parsley
- 225g/8oz sausagemeat
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Turkey:
- 1 (5.4kg/12lb) oven-ready British Turkey, giblets removed
- 12 rashers rindless smoked streaky bacon
- 6 chipolata sausages, twisted in half to make 12
- 12 pitted no-soak prunes
- 50g/2oz butter
- 30ml/2tbsp plain flour
- 900ml/11⁄2 pt turkey stock
To serve:
- roast potatoes, parsnips and mixed vegetables
Method
- Make stuffing: heat oil in a pan and fry onion for 4 minutes. Add cranberries, lemon zest and juice; remove from heat. In a large bowl, mix remaining stuffing ingredients with onions; season.
- Prepare trimmings: stretch bacon rashers with back of a knife; cut in half. Wrap a piece of bacon around each of the sausages and prunes. Place seam side down in a roasting tray, cover and chill until required.
- Stuff the turkey: preheat oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5. Spoon stuffing into neck cavity of turkey, then tuck skin flap underneath; secure with cocktail sticks. Roll any remaining stuffing into balls and roast with bacon rolls.
- Truss and weigh turkey: tie string around leg joints, then around parsons nose, under the bird and up over the wings. Tie tightly to secure shape. Weigh turkey, then calculate cooking time: allow 20 minutes per kg + 90 minutes (3 hours 18 minutes for 5.4kg bird). Place in a large roasting tin. Spread butter all over and season. Loosely cover with foil.
- Roast turkey for the calculated time, basting occasionally with the pan juices. Remove foil for final 45 minutes to crisp skin; roast bacon rolls and stuffing balls above the turkey for 20 minutes. Check turkey is cooked – pierce thigh with a skewer, juices should run clear. Transfer turkey to serving plate, cover with foil and rest in a warm place for 20 minutes – this makes carving easier.
- Make gravy: spoon off excess fat from juices in roasting tin. Place tin on a low heat; add flour and cook, stirring for 1 minute. Gradually stir in stock and bring to boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain into a warm gravy boat.



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