Garlic and Rosemary Slow-Roasted Turkey

By Chez_Alexander

Ingredients

• 1 (12 lb) fresh or frozen turkey, thawed
• 9 garlic cloves, divided
• 1 TBS chopped fresh rosemary
• 8 tsp butter, softened
• 1 TBS paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp pepper
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• Cooking spray

Details

Adapted from myrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Remove and discard giblets and neck from turkey. Trim excess fat. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.

2. Mince 3 garlic cloves. Combine minced garlic, chopped rosemary, and next 4 ingredients (through pepper) in a small bowl. Rub butter mixture under loosened skin and over breast and drumsticks. Place remaining 6 garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs in body cavity. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Let turkey stand 1 hour at room temperature.

3. Preheat oven to 500F.

4. Place turkey, breast side up, on the rack of a roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Place rack in pan. Bake at 500F for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 250F; bake for 2 hours or until a thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh registers 165F. Remove from oven; cover loosely with foil. Let stand 20 minutes.