JoËl Robuchons Roast Turkey Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S ROAST TURKEY AND GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix 2 tablespoons salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper, and poultry seasoning in a small bowl. Tuck turkey wings under the bird, and season cavity with about 1 tablespoon of the poultry seasoning mixture. Reserve remaining poultry seasoning mix.
• Toss the onion, celery, and carrots together in a bowl. Stuff about 1/2 cup of the vegetable mixture, rosemary sprigs, and 1/2 bunch sage into the cavity of the turkey. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Loosen the skin on top of the turkey breast using fingers or a small spatula. Place about 2 tablespoons butter under the skin and spread evenly. Spread the remaining butter (about 2 tablespoons) all over the outside of the skin. Sprinkle the outside of the turkey with the remaining poultry seasoning mix.
• Spread the remaining onion, celery, and carrots into a large roasting pan. Place the turkey on top of the vegetables. Fill the pan with about 1/2 inch of water. Arrange a sheet of aluminum foil over the breast of the turkey.
• Roast the turkey in the preheated oven until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 3 1/2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone should read 165 degrees F (75 degrees C). Remove the foil during the last hour of cooking. Baste the turkey with the pan juices.
• While the turkey is roasting, make stock: place neck, heart, and gizzards in a saucepan with the bay leaf and water. Simmer over medium heat for 2 hours. Strain the turkey giblets from the stock, and discard giblets. There should be at least 4 cups of stock.
• Remove the turkey from the oven, cover with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Pour the pan juices, about 3 cups, into a saucepan and set aside. Skim off the turkey fat from the pan juices, reserving about 2 tablespoons.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the turkey fat and 1 tablespoon butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Transfer the onion from the roasting pan into the skillet. Cook and stir until the onion is browned, about 5 minutes, then stir in the flour. Continue to cook and stir for about 5 minutes more; whisk in 4 cups of the skimmed turkey stock and the reserved pan juices until smooth; skim off any foam. Stir in the balsamic vinegar. Simmer until the gravy is thickened, whisking constantly, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of chopped sage, and season to taste with salt and black pepper.

JOËL ROBUCHON'S ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Remove the turkey and butter from the refrigerator 1 hour prior. Put turkey into Dutch oven,add the onion, carrot, bouquet garni, clove, neck (cut in half), giblets and wing tips. Pour the broth over and cover pot with aluminum foil. Cover if lid doesn't fit, make sure the foil is snug around rim) cook over low heat for 35 minutes. * Remove the turkey and put on a deep platter. With a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables and giblets. Pour most of the broth into a small saucepan, leaving a little in the large pot. * Spread softened butter over the turkey, adding any extra to the pot. Season with salt and pepper. wrap the ends of the drumsticks with aluminum foil. Put turkey back into the large pot on its side, along with the vegetables and giblets. Pour any juices that collected under the turkey into the saucepan of broth. * Put turkey, uncovered, into oven. Set temperature to 400 degrees (the oven should not be preheated) cook until a thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees, about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Start by roasting the turkey for 40 minutes on the first side, then 40 minutes on the second side, 10 minutes on its back, and finally 10 minutes on its breast, turning the turkey with sturdy tongs. Baste the turkey with its cooking juices at least once every 30 minutes. * When you turn the turkey on its back (after 1 hour and 20 minutes), prepare the sauce: Bring the small saucepan to a boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the turkey comes out of the oven. * When turkey is cooked, remove to platter. Put vegetables on platter, discard the clove and the bouquet garni. * Spoon as much fat out of the turkey pot as possible. Keep brown cooking juices. Pour broth from the small saucepan into the large pot and boil for 10 minutes. Put sauce through a fine strainer and serve on top of the carved turkey or on the side

SIMPLE ROAST TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Remove the giblets from inside the turkey. Pat the turkey dry and place it on a roasting rack, breast-side up. Cross the legs and tie them together with kitchen twine. Tuck the wings under the bird and transfer the roasting rack to its pan. Season the turkey with salt and pepper. Cover the whole bird and pan with aluminum foil, tucking it all the way under the pan. Roast for the first stage for 10 minutes per pound, 3 to 3 1/2 hours for an 18- to 20-pound turkey.
• Meanwhile, place the butter, rosemary, thyme, sage, lemon zest and orange zest in a bowl. Mix together until combined.
• After the first stage of cooking, remove the turkey from the oven and remove the foil. The turkey will still be pale at this stage. Smear the butter mixture all over the skin and into the crevices of the turkey so that it is totally covered. Insert a meat thermometer into the thigh and increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Return the turkey to the oven and roast, basting every 30 minutes, until the internal temperature on the thermometer reads 165 degrees F, an additional 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Put the turkey on a cutting board, cover loosely with fresh aluminum foil and rest for 25 to 30 minutes until you're ready to carve, saving the pan juices for gravy.

JOëL ROBUCHON'S LOBSTER IN SAUTERNES

Steps:

• In a stockpot just large enough to hold the lobsters, add 3 inches of water and 1 tablespoon of salt. When the water boils, add the lobster bodies, return water to a boil and poach for 3 minutes. Remove lobsters and twist off the legs and discard. Remove the large claws and knuckles and return them to the pot. Boil for 2 minutes, remove, rinse under cold water and when cool enough to handle crack the claws and knuckles and remove the meat. Set aside.
• In a cocotte or a casserole with a lid just large enough to hold the lobsters snugly, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Cut the carrots into thin rounds and sauté them. Melt 2 more tablespoons of butter in the pan with the carrots. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and sauté until the onions are soft but not brown. Add the Sauternes, orange juice, the remaining butter, the ginger, the saffron, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil.
• Add the lobster bodies, return the liquid to a boil, cover and boil for 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 3 minutes.
• Remove the lobsters and split them in half lengthwise using a heavy chef's knife. Remove the meat and discard the shells.
• Add the claw meat to the liquid and warm it over a low flame. Arrange the tail meat on plates, and distribute the claw meat equally. If necessary, reduce the liquid, season with sea salt and pepper and stir in parsley. Divide the reduction evenly among the lobsters.