If you crave crispy, crackling turkey skin, this is the bird for you! A few simple techniques result in a juicy, rosemary-scented turkey with skin that’s wonderfully caramelized.
Special Diets:
Method
Pat turkey dry inside and out with paper towels.
Starting at the opening of the turkey cavity, gently ease your fingers beneath the skin to create air space over the breast and legs.
Place turkey on a rack set in a roasting pan. Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight or up to two days to allow the skin to dry slightly.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Pat cavity of bird dry if necessary.
In a small bowl, combine chopped rosemary, oil, salt and pepper and make a paste.
Rub about 1/3 of paste underneath the skin onto breast and thigh meat.
Rub remaining paste over skin and inside cavity.
Tie turkey legs together with kitchen string and tuck wing tips underneath body.
Place turkey upside down (back will be up, breast and legs will be pointing down) on the rack and roast until skin on back is deeply browned, about 1 1/4 hours.
Remove turkey from the oven, protecting your hands with gloves or a folded kitchen towel, and turn turkey breast-side up. Continue to roast until breast and legs are nicely browned and the joints at the leg and wing begin to be flexible, about 1 more hour.
Raise the oven temperature to 475°F. Continue roasting until skin is browned and crisp, and a meat thermometer inserted into thickest part of the thigh (not touching bone) registers 165°F and juices run clear when you poke the thigh with a paring knife, 20 to 30 minutes longer.
Remove turkey from the oven and place on a cutting board. Let rest, uncovered, about 25 minutes before carving.
Arrange carved turkey on a platter garnished with rosemary sprigs.
Nutritional Info
Serving Size
Calories
490
Total Fat
Saturated Fat
Cholesterol
Sodium
Total Carbohydrate
Dietary Fiber
Total Sugars
Protein
Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember - we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information. See our Terms of Service.