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Dry-Cured Roasted Turkey with Herb Butter





Yields
Serves 12, with leftovers



Prep and Cook Time
5 hrs



Cure Time
2 days



Total Time
2 days 5 hrs

Cindy Daniel of Healdsburg Shed in Northern California rubs her turkey with salt 2 days before roasting to season it beautifully without the messiness of a brine. A flavorful herb butter adds juiciness. Daniel likes the free-range turkeys from Northern California BN Ranch (eatlikeitmatters.com). As for wine, she pours local Pinot Noirs from DuMol and Copain Trousseau and the dry Radio-Coteau Platt Riesling.

su-Dry-Cured Roasted Turkey with Herb Butter Image




Photo: Thomas J. Story
 1 turkey (16 to 18 lbs.), thawed if frozen
 1/4 cup plus 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, plus 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves, plus 4 large sprigs
 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves, plus 4 large sprigs
 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper, divided
 1 large carrot, cut into 1-in. chunks
 1 stalk celery, cut into 1-in. chunks
 1 large onion, cut into eighths
  Sprays of herbs, such as bay, sage, or rosemary, and crabapples (optional)
Step 1
1

Two days ahead, discard lumps of fat and the metal or plastic leg truss, if any, from turkey. Rinse turkey and pat dry. Reserve neck and giblets (but not liver), chilled, for Roasted Turkey Gravy. Set turkey on a rimmed baking sheet. Slide hands under breast skin as far as you can go to loosen it. Turn turkey breast down and slide hands under thigh skin to loosen. Rub 1/4 cup salt under breast and thigh skin and inside cavities. Turn turkey breast up. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill 1 day.

Step 2
2

The next day, turn turkey over and drain any liquid from pan. Cover again, this time with 2 clean kitchen towels, and chill 1 day.

Step 3
3

Two hours before roasting, remove turkey from refrigerator and pat dry.

Step 4
4

Preheat oven to 400° with a rack set in lower third. Combine softened butter with chopped thyme and sage; season with 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper.

Step 5
5

Patting turkey dry as needed, rub two-thirds of herb butter under skin of breast and thighs (access thighs from back), under neck flap, and all over outside of bird. Dollop remaining butter in cavity and add thyme and sage sprigs. Sprinkle outside of turkey with remaining 1 tsp. pepper. Tuck wings under turkey and tie legs together with kitchen twine. Fold neck skin under body and secure with a skewer.

Step 6
6

Set a V-shaped rack in a large roasting pan and set turkey breast up on rack. Add carrot, celery, and onion to pan. Roast 30 minutes. Reduce oven to 325°, baste turkey with melted butter, and put reserved turkey neck and giblets in pan. Roast, basting every 30 minutes (use pan drippings once butter is gone), until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast to the bone reaches 165°, 2 to 3 1/4 hours more.

Step 7
7

Lift rack with turkey and tip juices from cavity into pan. Transfer turkey to a carving board, tent loosely with foil, and let rest in a warm place about 30 minutes. Reserve vegetables, turkey neck and giblets, and pan drippings for gravy.

Step 8
8

Set turkey on a platter and tuck in sprays of herbs and crabapples.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 0

Amount Per Serving
Calories 195Calories from Fat 30
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6.5g10%

Saturated Fat 1.9g10%
Cholesterol 119mg40%
Sodium 377mg16%
Total Carbohydrate 0.0g0%

Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
Protein 32g64%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.