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Classic Christmas roast turkey recipe

235 ratings

See method

Serves 6
10 mins to prepare and 3 hrs 15 mins to cook
833 calories / serving

Ingredients

For the turkey

5kg Tesco fresh turkey
50g butter, at room temperature
1 lemon, quartered
5 rosemary sprigs
3 large onions, finely sliced
sea salt

For the stuffing

2 tbsp olive oil
2 red onions peeled and chopped
250g breadcrumbs
125g macadamia nuts, roughly chopped in a food processor
100g dried cranberries
rind of 2 oranges and juice of 1 orange
2 eggs
salt
freshly ground black pepper

For the gravy

250g onions, peeled and coarsely sliced
pinch cumin seeds
1 tbsp organic cocoa powder
2 tbsp clear honey
1 tbsp plain flour
250ml red wine, preferably Merlot
1 turkey or vegetable stock cube, made up to 300ml

If you don't have red onions, try using white, brown or spring onions

Each serving contains

Energy
3490kj
833kcal 42%
Fat
33g 47%
Saturates
9g 46%
Sugars
26g 29%
Salt
2.2g 37%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 60.9g Protein 61.3g Fibre 5.7g

Method

Preheat the oven to gas 5, 190°C, fan 170°C. Rub the turkey all over with butter and sprinkle with sea salt. Place the lemon pieces and rosemary inside the cavity.
Place the onion halves in a large flameproof roasting tin and sit the turkey on top. Cover with kitchen foil, tucking under the tin to create a foil tent. Roast according to the instructions (about 3 hr 30 minutes), but remove the foil 30 minutes before the end and cook until the turkey is golden.
Meanwhile, make the stuffing. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the onions for 4 to 5 minutes until transparent. Place in a bowl and add all the remaining ingredients. Mix and season well. Place in a shallow, ovenproof dish and set aside.
Remove the cooked turkey from the oven. To test that the meat is cooked, pierce the fattest part of the thigh with a skewer. The juices should run clear.
Add the stuffing to the oven and cook for 35-40 minutes until golden.
Remove the turkey from the roasting tin and set aside to rest for 30 minutes, covered loosely with foil. Skim the excess fat off the juices, then add the onions and cumin seeds to the roasting tin.
Fry gently until the onions are tender. Add the cocoa powder, honey and enough flour to absorb the juices and remaining fat. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Gradually stir in the wine and stock and bring to a simmer. Adjust seasoning to taste, then cook the gravy for 5-10 minutes. Serve with the turkey and stuffing.

Tip: Leftover meat will stay juicer if you keep it on the bone. Wrap the turkey carcass in a clean damp tea towel and cling film, then store in the fridge.

It may sound unusual, but adding cocoa to the chunky onion gravy really works, offsetting the tangy wine.

See more Christmas recipes

Some products in this recipe are seasonal and so may not be available to buy online all year.

For top tips on protecting you and your family when preparing raw meat and poultry, visit Food Safety in the Home.