Portturkey Recipes

WORLD'S SIMPLEST THANKSGIVING TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Pull the neck and giblets out of the cavity; ditch the liver and save the rest of the giblets for gravy. Dry the turkey with paper towels, then season inside and out with salt and pepper. Fill the turkey with aromatics like chopped onions, carrots, apples and herbs, then place breast-side up in a roasting pan and brush with melted butter. Tent with foil and roast for 2 hours (for a 10- to 12-pound turkey; add an extra 15 minutes per pound for larger birds). Remove the foil, baste with more melted butter and crank the oven to 425 degrees F. Roast for another hour or until the meat at the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Let rest while you make the gravy.

ROAST TURKEY WITH PORT GRAVY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Rinse turkey and pat dry inside and out. Season turkey inside and out with salt and pepper and pack neck cavity loosely with some stuffing. Fold neck and skin under body and fasten with a skewer. Fill body cavity loosely with some remaining and truss turkey. Transfer remaining to a buttered 3-quart baking dish and reserve it, covered and chilled.
• Spread turkey with butter and on a rack in a roasting pan in oven 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. and baste turkey with pan juices. Add water to pan and roast, basting every 20 minutes, 2 1/2 to 3 hours more, or until a meat thermometer in fleshy part of thigh registers 180°F., and juices run clear when thigh is pierced.
• During last 1 1/2 hours of roasting, drizzle reserved stuffing with stock or broth and bake, covered, in 325°F. oven 1 hour. Bake stuffing uncovered, 30 minutes more. Transfer turkey to a heated platter, reserving juices in roasting pan, and discard string. Keep turkey warm, covered loosely with foil.
• Make gravy:
• Skim fat from roasting pan juices, reserving 1/4 cup fat, and deglaze pan with Port over moderately high heat, scraping up brown bits. Bring Port to a boil and remove pan from heat. In a saucepan whisk together reserved fat and flour and cook roux over moderately low heat, whisking, 3 minutes. Add Port mixture and stock or broth in a stream, whisking, and simmer, whisking occasionally, 10 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste and transfer gravy to a heated gravy boat.
• Garnish turkey and stuffing with herbs and apple slices.

PORT-BASTED ROAST TURKEY WITH PAN GRAVY

Steps:

• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325°F. Pat turkey dry. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Rub turkey breast with 2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold 2-foot-square piece of cheesecloth in half twice, forming 12-inch square. Dip cloth into water; squeeze out excess moisture. Drape cloth over turkey breast, tucking cloth under at sides. Roast 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring 1 1/2 cups broth, Port and 4 tablespoons butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan, stirring until butter melts. Baste turkey with 3/4 cup Port mixture. Roast turkey 1 hour 10 minutes, basting twice with remaining Port mixture.
• Add water, onion, carrot and apple to roasting pan; stir to coat vegetables with pan juices. Baste turkey with pan juices. Roast 20 minutes. Remove cheesecloth. Roast turkey until skin browns and meat thermometer inserted into innermost part of thigh registers 180°F, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 50 minutes. Transfer turkey to platter; tent with foil.
• Place roasting pan over medium-high heat. Bring pan juices and vegetables to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add Gravy Base and boil uncovered 5 minutes. Scrape mixture into strainer set over large measuring cup, pressing on solids with back of spoon. Spoon fat off top of pan juices. Add enough additional broth to cup to measure 3 cups liquid if necessary, or transfer pan juices to saucepan and boil until reduced to 3 cups if necessary. Bring pan juices to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Mix 3 tablespoons butter and flour in small bowl to form paste. Add paste to pan juices; bring to boil, whisking constantly. Boil until sauce thickens, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve turkey, passing gravy separately.

MOIST ROAST TURKEY WITH A PORT GRAVY

Steps:

• Discard giblets if inserted, rinse turkey under cold water inside and out, pat dry. Spoon seasoning or stuffing into cavity and tie legs together with kitchen string.
• In an oven proof baking dish pour in chicken stock and half the port. Place turkey upside down in dish, cover dish tightly with foil, bake in a slow oven (130c) 4hrs.
• Remove foil place turkey right way up, combine remaining port with sugar, brush over turkey. Roast uncovered 180-190c for a further 45 Min's or until turkey is browned and cooked through.
• Remove turkey from dish cover with foil to keep warm. Strain juices into a pan, to remove any bits of meat and fat. Heat over a medium heat, mix a little water with cornflour, pour into sauce, stir until mixture boils and thickens.
• Serve turkey with port gravy.

ROAST TURKEY WITH PORT GRAVY

Steps:

• For stock:
• Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add neck, heart, and gizzard, then celery and onion; sauté until deep brown, stirring often, about 18 minutes. Add 6 cups water and bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 1 1/2 hours. Strain stock into large measuring cup and reserve; discard solids. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, cover, and chill.
• For turkey:
• Place turkey on rack in large roasting pan. Mix onion, apple, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and thyme in bowl. Spoon mixture into main turkey cavity. Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Rub oil over turkey; sprinkle with 3 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with plastic; chill.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Roast turkey uncovered 45 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Roast turkey 1 hour. Turn pan around; pour 1 cup turkey stock over. Roast until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, about 1 hour longer. Transfer turkey to platter; tent loosely with foil and let stand 30 minutes (internal temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees). Reserve pan juices for gravy.
• For gravy:
• Blend butter and flour in small bowl to smooth paste. Tilt roasting pan; spoon off fat from pan juices. Place pan over 2 burners on medium-high heat. Add Port and 1 cup turkey stock; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Transfer to large saucepan. Measure 3 cups turkey stock, adding chicken broth if needed. Add to saucepan and bring to boil. Whisk in flour paste. Boil until gravy is thick enough to coat spoon, whisking occasionally, about 15 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper.