Traditional Roasted Turkey

Recipe courtesy Voltaggio Brothers
Show: Williams-Sonoma Specials Episode: Voltaggios Take On: Thanksgiving

Photo: Traditional Roasted Turkey

TOTAL TIME: 19 hr 50 min
Prep: 1 hr
Inactive Prep: 14 hr
Cook: 4 hr 50 min
 
YIELD: 10 to 12 servings
LEVEL: Intermediate

ingredients

BRINE:
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 12 ounces chicken wings, halved at the joint
  • 1 turkey neck
  • 1/4 cup diced carrots
  • 1/4 cup diced celery
  • 1/4 cup diced onions
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/2 tablespoon salt
  • 3 allspice berries
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 2 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 2 sprigs fresh marjoram
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
    TURKEY:
    • One 14-to-16-pound fresh turkey
    • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
    • 20 grinds black pepper from a mill
    • 5 sprigs fresh marjoram
    • 3 sprigs golden sage
    HERB MAYONNAISE:
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh golden sage
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
    • 1/2 orange, juiced
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
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    Directions

    For the brine: In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken wings and neck of the turkey and cook, stirring occasionally, until dark brown and roasted, about 10 minutes.

    Add the carrots, celery and onions and continue cooking until golden, another 5 to 7 minutes. Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to release all bits.
    Add 1 quart cold water, the soy sauce, salt, allspice, garlic, cinnamon, marjoram and thyme. Bring to a boil. Once the liquid has boiled for 5 minutes, stir well and cool down over an ice bath.

    Strain out the solids and reserve.

    For the turkey: Put the brine and the turkey into a brining bag and seal. Allow the turkey to brine for 12 hours in the refrigerator before cooking. Rinse the turkey to remove the excess brine and pat dry with towels. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the brine for basting. Let the turkey stand uncovered at room temperature for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

    Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.

    Place the reserved brine solids on the bottom of a roasting pan. Then fit the roasting rack over the solids. Sprinkle the turkey cavity with the salt and pepper. Place the marjoram, sage, rosemary, apples, onions and garlic inside the cavity. Truss the turkey with kitchen twine. Coat the turkey evenly with the Herb Mayonnaise, using more if needed. Place the turkey, breast-side up, on the rack in the roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and roast for about 1 1/2 hours more, then begin basting every 15 minutes with the drippings and leftover brine using a pastry brush. Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Total roasting time should be 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

    Remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to rest about 15 minutes. Cut and discard the kitchen twine and carve. Serve with gravy.
    Add the egg yolks and mustard to a food processor or blender. Pulse until combined. While the processor is running, slowly drizzle in the oil until the mixture has fully emulsified and thickened. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in the marjoram, sage, thyme and orange juice. Use 1 cup (or more if needed) for the turkey, and reserve the rest for another use. Season with salt and pepper. Yield: 2 cups.

    Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell. For recipes that call for eggs that are raw or undercooked when the dish is served use shell eggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella, by pasteurization or another approved method.

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    4

    Newest Ratings and Reviews

    Read all 13 reviews

    • on November 22, 2012

      Flag

      Fourth time I have made this, great recipe. If u want a perfect turkey this is the recipe to use.

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    • on December 07, 2011

      Flag

      Amazing, the herb mayonnaise was the right touch for a juicy succulent and extremely colorful bird. My guests loved it as did I.

      people found this review Helpful.
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    • on November 25, 2011

      Flag

      I've been making Thanksgiving dinner for 15 years or more. This turkey was picture perfect. Beautiful to look at, marvelously delish! This recipe will replace the two favorites I have usually used in the past. The brine was a wonderful blend of savory, cinnamon, and citrus flavors (Don't skip this! The mayonaise covered breast (after reading other posts, I used Best Foods, it made the meat tender, juicy and delicious. Family and guests loved it. Other than the jarred mayo, I made no alterations and would not change a thing! Thanks are given to you! Note: The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because the directions were somewhat confusing. As another post wrote, you had to read through them carefully to follow them. Also, when you print this, the mayonaise directions don't show. So, I had to read them from the computer while cooking.

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