Roast Turkey & Gravy

By carvalhohm

Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
• 1 c. butter, softened
• 3 T. fresh sage, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• 14 to 16-lb. turkey
• 3 c. leeks, white and green parts chopped
• 8 fresh sage sprigs
• 3 bay leaves, crumbled
• 4-1/2 c. chicken broth, divided
• Garnish: fresh sage and parsley

Details

Servings 12
Adapted from gooseberrypatch.typepad.com

Preparation

Step 1

Combine bacon, butter and chopped sage in a medium bowl. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper; set aside. Pat turkey dry with paper towels and sprinkle cavity with salt and pepper. Place leeks, sage sprigs and bay leaves in cavity. Loosen skin on turkey breast and spread 1/3 cup sage butter over meat, under skin. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan and rub 2 tablespoons sage butter over outside of turkey.

Set aside 1/3 cup sage butter for gravy; reserve remaining for basting. Position rack in bottom third of oven. Pour 1/3 cup broth over turkey. Roast at 350 degrees for about 3 hours, until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of inner thigh registers 165 degrees. Baste every 30 minutes with 1/3 cup broth and brush with sage butter.

Transfer turkey to a platter and let stand 30 minutes. To prepare gravy, pour pan juices into a large glass measuring cup; spoon off fat and discard. Pour juices into saucepan, add 2 cups broth and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until liquid is reduced to 2 cups. Whisk in reserved 1/3 cup sage butter; add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 12 to 14.

Combine bacon, butter and chopped sage in a medium bowl. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper; set aside. Pat turkey dry with paper towels and sprinkle cavity with salt and pepper. Place leeks, sage sprigs and bay leaves in cavity. Loosen skin on turkey breast and spread 1/3 cup sage butter over meat, under skin. Place turkey on rack set in large roasting pan and rub 2 tablespoons sage butter over outside of turkey.

Set aside 1/3 cup sage butter for gravy; reserve remaining for basting. Position rack in bottom third of oven. Pour 1/3 cup broth over turkey. Roast at 350 degrees for about 3 hours, until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of inner thigh registers 165 degrees. Baste every 30 minutes with 1/3 cup broth and brush with sage butter.

Transfer turkey to a platter and let stand 30 minutes. To prepare gravy, pour pan juices into a large glass measuring cup; spoon off fat and discard. Pour juices into saucepan, add 2 cups broth and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until liquid is reduced to 2 cups. Whisk in reserved 1/3 cup sage butter; add salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 12 to 14.