Thyme Roasted Turkey Recipes

THYME-ROASTED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. On rack in large shallow roasting pan, place turkey breast, skin side up. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of breast and does not touch bone.
• Roast uncovered 30 minutes.
• In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Brush one-third of apple juice mixture over turkey.
• Roast 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes longer, brushing generously with apple juice mixture every 30 minutes, until thermometer reads at least 165°F. Cover with foil; let stand 15 minutes for easiest carving.

WHITE HOUSE THYME ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• For the brine: Heat the water, thyme, garlic, onion, lemon zest, peppercorns, bay leaves, kosher salt and light brown sugar in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar and salt dissolve. Transfer the liquid to a clean 5-gallon bucket. Add enough ice to total 3 gallons of liquid and mix until incorporated.
• For the turkey: Add the turkey to the bucket with the brining liquid and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.
• When ready to roast, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Have ready a large roasting pan with a rack.
• Remove the turkey from the brining liquid and use paper towels to pat it as dry as possible inside and out. Rub the turkey with the butter all over, including the cavity, and sprinkle with the sea salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the thyme, garlic, onions, bay leaves and lemon zest from the brine solution. Fold the wingtips underneath the turkey. Truss the legs with kitchen twine. Place the turkey in the roasting pan, breast-side up. Fold the neck flap under.
• Roast the turkey for 1 hour to brown it, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and cook for another 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F. Let the turkey rest at room temperature, covered with foil, for 30 minutes before carving.

SHALLOT AND THYME-RUBBED ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Position oven rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350F. Place shallots, garlic and thyme sprigs in a small ovenproof baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Cover dish with foil and bake until shallots are very tender but not brown, about one hour. Uncover and cool 30 minutes.
• Place garlic, half of shallots and oil in work bowl of a food processor. Add chopped thyme, mustard, salt and pepper. Process until almost smooth. Transfer paste to a small bowl. Shallot paste can be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to four days.
• Rinse turkey inside and out with cold running water and pat dry. Starting at the neck end, carefully slide your hand between the turkey's skin and breast to loosen skin. Spread a half cup of shallot paste under skin and over breast meat. Tuck wings underneath the body of the turkey and tie legs together loosely with kitchen twine or dental floss so the turkey will hold its shape. Place turkey on a small wire rack set inside a large roasting pan. Spread a half cup of shallot paste all over the outside of the turkey neck, gizzard and heart and place onion, celery and thyme sprigs in the pan around turkey.
• Bring a cup of the wine and two cups of the broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Pour boiling liquid into bottom of roasting pan. Cover breast loosely with foil and place turkey in oven. Roast for one and a half hours. Add a cup of the broth and a cup of wine to the pan and roast turkey another 30 minutes. Remove foil and add a cup broth to pan.
• Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 175 degrees F, another one to one and a half hours. During roasting, cover exposed parts of turkey with foil as needed to prevent over-browning and add more broth if pan juices evaporate.
• Remove turkey from oven and transfer to a platter. Tent turkey loosely with foil and let rest 30 minutes - its internal temperature will rise another 5-10 degrees. Reserving drippings and discard neck, gizzard and heart. Place turkey on a serving platter, carve and serve with gravy.

THYME ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the butter, thyme, salt and pepper. Place turkey on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub half of the butter mixture under the skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Rub outside of turkey with remaining butter mixture. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 3 to 3-3/4 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly., Discard toothpicks. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before carving.

ROAST TURKEY WITH FRESH THYME RUB AND MAPLE GLAZE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Fasten neck skin to back of turkey with skewer. Fold wings across back of turkey so tips are touching. On rack in shallow roasting pan, place turkey, breast side up.
• In small bowl, mix thyme, salt, allspice, pepper and oil. Rub thyme mixture over turkey. Tuck legs under band of skin at tail (if present), or tie together with heavy string. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer into turkey so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh and does not touch bone.
• Roast uncovered 1 hour. When turkey begins to turn golden brown, place tent of heavy-duty foil over turkey. Roast 2 hours 30 minutes longer.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter on High 45 seconds or until melted. Stir in maple syrup.
• Cut band of skin or remove tie holding legs to allow inside of thighs to cook through. Brush turkey with butter-syrup mixture; roast uncovered 20 to 30 minutes longer, brushing with butter-syrup mixture again after 10 minutes.
• Turkey is done when thermometer reads 165°F and drumsticks move easily when lifted or twisted. Place turkey on warm platter; cover with foil to keep warm. Let stand 15 minutes for easiest carving. Garnish with thyme sprigs, apricot slices and cherries.

LEMON-HERB ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest and minced thyme. Pat turkey dry. Sprinkle salt and pepper over skin of turkey and inside cavity; brush with butter mixture. Place the lemon, onion, garlic and thyme sprigs inside cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Place flour in oven bag and shake to coat. Place bag in a roasting pan; add turkey to bag, breast side up. Cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag; close bag with tie provided., Bake at 350° for 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours or until a thermometer reads 180°. Remove turkey to a serving platter and keep warm. Let stand for 15 minutes before carving. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy. Freeze option: Freeze cooled turkey and gravy in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered skillet, gently stirring and adding a little broth or water if necessary.

HERBED ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in lowest position. Remove packet of giblets and neck from cavity. Discard liver. Rinse remaining giblets and neck; refrigerate until ready to make broth.
• Turn turkey on its back and bend wing tips forward and underneath neck cavity of bird so they stay in place (you may have to break the bones).
• In a small bowl, combine parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme, garlic, 4 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using your fingers, carefully loosen skin of breast and around thighs and rub herb mixture under skin of both.
• Season cavity with salt and pepper and loosely fill with lemons and rosemary sprigs. Using cotton kitchen twine, tie legs together so bird retains its shape and moisture during cooking.
• Pour cider in bottom of pan. Set roasting rack on top. Lift turkey onto rack, breast side up; rub with remaining tablespoon oil; season generously with salt and pepper. Tent turkey loosely with foil. Roast 1 hour. Uncover and continue to roast, basting frequently with pan juices, until an instant read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) registers 170 degrees, 2 1/2 to 3 hours more. (Temperature will rise about 10 degrees as turkey rests.) Tent with foil if browning too quickly; add water if pan becomes dry. Cover loosely with foil, and let stand 30 minutes before carving. Serve with roasted vegetables.

ROSEMARY ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, basil, Italian seasoning, black pepper and salt. Set aside.
• Wash the turkey inside and out; pat dry. Remove any large fat deposits. Loosen the skin from the breast. This is done by slowly working your fingers between the breast and the skin. Work it loose to the end of the drumstick, being careful not to tear the skin.
• Using your hand, spread a generous amount of the rosemary mixture under the breast skin and down the thigh and leg. Rub the remainder of the rosemary mixture over the outside of the breast. Use toothpicks to seal skin over any exposed breast meat.
• Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan. Add about 1/4 inch of water to the bottom of the pan. Roast in the preheated oven 3 to 4 hours, or until the internal temperature of the bird reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C).

THYME-ROASTED TURKEY WITH GINGERSNAP GRAVY

Steps:

• For thyme butter:
• Mix first 5 ingredients in small bowl to blend. (Thyme butter can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• For turkey:
• Set rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry with paper towels. Discard any pieces of fat from cavities. Sprinkle main cavity of turkey with salt and pepper. Starting at neck end, carefully slide hand between skin and breast meat to loosen skin. Spread 3 tablespoons thyme butter over breast meat under skin. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing into neck and main cavities. If not stuffing, place 6 thyme sprigs and 1/2 cup onions in main cavity. Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together to hold shape. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan. Rub 4 tablespoons thyme butter over outside of turkey. Cover turkey breast loosely with foil. Scatter 2 1/2 cups onions and reserved turkey parts in pan around turkey. Pour 2 cups broth into pan.
• Roast turkey 1 1/2 hours, lifting foil to baste with pan juices every 30 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups broth to roasting pan. Roast turkey 30 minutes; baste with pan juices. Add 1 cup broth to pan. Remove foil. Continue to roast turkey until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, basting turkey with pan juices every 30 minutes and adding 1/2 cup broth to pan if juices evaporate, about 1 hour longer for unstuffed turkey and 1 hour 30 minutes longer for stuffed. Transfer turkey to platter. Brush turkey with remaining thyme butter. Tent turkey loosely with foil; let stand 30 minutes (internal temperature of turkey will increase 5 to 10 degrees). Discard neck, gizzard, and heart from roasting pan. Strain turkey pan juices into large measuring cup. Spoon fat from top of pan juices; discard fat.
• Meanwhile, prepare gravy:
• Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon chopped thyme, ginger, and cayenne; stir 1 minute. Add broth; increase heat to high and boil until liquid is reduced to 3 cups, about 12 minutes.
• Add turkey pan juices, gingersnap cookies, and any accumulated juices from turkey platter to gravy base in saucepan. Boil until gravy is thick enough to coat spoon, whisking to dissolve gingersnaps, about 2 minutes. Mix in remaining 1 tablespoon chopped thyme. Season gravy to taste with salt and pepper. Serve turkey with gravy.

ROAST TURKEY WITH SAGE AND THYME

Steps:

• Remove and discard giblets and neck from turkey. Rinse turkey with cold water, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Loosen skin from turkey breast without totally detaching skin( sort of make a pocket). Stir together 2 tablespoons, butter, salt and pepper. Rub butter mixture evenly over turkey breast under skin. Carefully place sage leaves and thyme sprigs evenly on each side of breat under skin. Replace skin.
• Place pear halves, celery, onion, and garlic inside cavity. Place turkey breast side up, on a lightly greased wire rack in an aluminum foil lined shallow roasting pan. Rub entire turkey evenly with remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Bake at 325F for 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours and 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°F Basting turkey every 30 minutes with pan drippings. (Prevent overcooking by checking for doneness after 2 hours)Remove turkey from roasting pan, and let sand 20 minutes before slicing. Garnish.

VERA'S ROAST TURKEY BREAST WITH GARLIC AND THYME

Steps:

• Trim turkey breast of any fat.
• In a small bowl combine olive oil with garlic, thyme, mustard, lemon peel, salt and pepper. Rub into turkey breast.
• Marinate in the refrigerator from 1 hour to 12 hours.
• Arrange turkey breast, skin side up, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or tinfoil.
• Roast at 350F for 50 to 60 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the breast reaches 165F and the juices run clear.
• Remove turkey from oven to a carving board and tent with tinfoil. Place juices in a medium skillet (could drain off some of the fat) add lemon juice (perhaps use less if some of the fat drained off) and boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter.
• Carve turkey into thin slices across the breast. Drizzle with sauce and garnish with fresh thyme.