Roast Turkey With Corn Bread Stuffing and Giblet Gravy

Submitted by lazyme

"A flavorful turkey prepared in an interesting way. It is soaked in brine, which helps tenderize the bird, and then rubbed with a citrus-thyme butter. The butter keeps the turkey moist and also enriches the pan drippings for the gravy. The stuffing borrows from the long tradition of corn breads in America. Be sure to make the Giblet Broth before you start roasting the turkey. From Bon Appétit, November 1996. The cooking time is for roasting the turkey since everything else can be prepared during the same time frame."

 

• Ready In: 5hrs
• Ingredients: 29
• Serves: 12

ingredients

• Turkey

• 4 quarts water
• 1 cup coarse salt
• 18 lbs turkey, neck and giblets reserved for Giblet Broth
• 1 cup butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
• 1⁄4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1⁄4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon pepper

• Corn Bread Stuffing

• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• chopped turkey neck meat and giblets reserved from giblet broth
• 3 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons brandy

• Giblet Broth

• 2 tablespoons butter
• neck and giblets reserved from 18-pound turkey (discard liver, if desired)
• 1 1⁄2 cups chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1⁄2 cup chopped celery
• 5 cups water
• 1 cup dry white wine
• leek (white and pale green parts only)
• 8 parsley sprigs thyme
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 whole cloves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon whole black peppercorn

directions

1. FOR TURKEY:

2. Combine 4 quarts water and 1 cup coarse salt in very large bowl.
3. Let stand until salt dissolves, whisking occasionally, about 10 minutes.
4. Place turkey in salted water, turning to coat.
5. Let turkey stand at room temperature 2 hours, turning occasionally.
6. Rinse turkey and pat dry with paper towels.
7. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan.
8. Tuck wings under turkey body.
9. Position oven rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325°F
10. Whisk butter, orange juice, lemon juice, thyme, orange peel, lemon peel, 3/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in medium bowl until well blended.
11. Rub 1/4 cup thyme butter inside turkey.
12. Spoon stuffing loosely into main cavity and neck cavity.
13. Generously rub remaining thyme butter over turkey.
14. Tie legs together loosely to hold shape of turkey.
15. Roast turkey until golden, basting occasionally with pan drippings, about 2 hours.
16. Cover entire turkey loosely with heavy-duty foil and roast until meat thermometer inserted into innermost part of thigh registers 180°F or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 1/2 hours longer.
17. Transfer turkey to platter.
18. Tent turkey with foil and let stand while preparing gravy.

19. FOR GRAVY:

20. Strain pan juices from roasting pan into large glass measuring cup.
21. Spoon fat off top of pan juices.
22. Pour juices and Giblet Broth into heavy medium saucepan.
23. Boil broth mixture until reduced to 3 cups, about 10 minutes.
24. Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat.
25. Add flour; cook until golden brown, stirring often, about 3 minutes.
26. Whisk in reduced broth mixture.
27. Simmer until gravy thickens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
28. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
29. Add reserved chopped neck meat and giblets, eggs and brandy; simmer 5 minutes longer.
30. Transfer to bowl.
31. Serve gravy with turkey.

32. FOR GIBLET BROTH:

33. Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
34. Add neck and giblets; saute until brown, about 10 minutes.
35. Using slotted spoon, transfer neck and giblets to plate.
36. Add carrots, onion and celery to pot.
37. Saute until vegetables brown, about 10 minutes.
38. Add water, wine, neck and giblets to vegetables; bring to boil.
39. Add all remaining ingredients to pot.
40. Reduce heat to medium-low; partially cover and simmer until giblets are very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
41. Using slotted spoon, transfer neck and giblets to plate.
42. Cool.
43. Carefully remove all meat from turkey neck.
44. Chop neck meat and giblets; reserve for gravy.
45. Strain broth into bowl, pressing on solids. (Broth and giblets can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately and chill.)
46. Makes about 3 1/2 cups.