Favorite Roasted Turkey and Gravy

By mamacasma

Ingredients

• 4-1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 12-lb. turkey, thawed if frozen
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. ground pepper
• 3 medium onions, cut into quarters
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 orange, cut into 8 wedges
• 4 thyme sprigs
• 3 sage sprigs
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch

Details

Servings 18

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F and place rack in lower third. In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup broth and 2 tbsp butter until butter is melted; set aside.

2. Remove giblets from turkey and reserve neck bone. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. Place in a roasting pan with a rack and tuck back wings. Sprinkle body cavity with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper; fill with onion, carrot, orange and herb sprigs. Fill neck cavity with onion and orange, if desired; secure skin flap under turkey. Place any remaining vegetables in bottom of pan with neck bone and 1/4 cup broth. Rub turkey with remaining 1 tbsp butter, 1-1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Tie legs together.

3. Cover pan with heavy-duty foil and seal around edges. Roast 1 hr. Reduce oven to 325 degrees F and roast 1 hr more. Remove foil and roast, basting with broth-butter mixture every 30 to 45 min, until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into inner thigh (without touching bone) registers 170 degrees F, 2 to 2-1/2 hrs. Remove turkey from oven, tent with foil and let stand 15 to 45 min before carving. Transfer turkey to a serving platter and remove rack from pan.

4. For gravy, remove vegetables and neck bone from pan, then strain drippings into a fat separator; pour off fat. Place roasting pan over 2 burners, add wine and heat over medium-high heat to deglaze, scraping up any brown bits in pan. Stir in pan drippings and transfer to a medium saucepan. Add 2 cups broth and bring to a boil. Stir together remaining 1 cup broth and the cornstarch; whisk into saucepan. Simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 2 min. Transfer to a bowl and serve with turkey.