Crispy Citrus Turkey
10 pound Butterball Turkey, thawed, neck and giblets removed
6 whole mandarin oranges, unpeeled
20 sage leaves
6 sprigs thyme
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup Ginger
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat
dry. Slice 4 mandarins and quarter the rest. Lift the skin covering
the breast meat and slide as many sliced mandarins, sage and thyme
sprigs under the skin as possible. Place any remaining herbs and
sliced oranges in the cavity.
Truss the legs together or tuck under the band of skin. Lift the
wings and twist under the back. Arrange the turkey surrounded by
quartered mandarins on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Brush
turkey with melted margarine, sprinkle with salt and pepper and
roast for 3 to 3 1/2 hours, basting often, or until meat thermometer
inserted into inner thigh registers 165 degrees. Tent with foil if
browning too quickly
Increase heat to 425 degrees. Brush turkey evenly with Mandarin
Ginger sauce and return to oven. Roast for 15 minutes or until skin
is dark and crispy and a meat thermometer registers 170 degrees.
Transfer turkey to a cutting board. Tent with foil and let stand 30
minutes before carving.
Makes 10 servings. |