Easy Roast Turkey with Apple Stuffing 🦃🍏
Introduction:
This delightful recipe for Easy Roast Turkey with Apple Stuffing is a culinary gem adapted from Julia Aitkin’s Easy Entertaining. It promises succulent, moist meat with a flavor infusion from the apple stuffing and bacon. Perfect for festive occasions like Christmas or Thanksgiving, this dish is also ideal for weeknight dinners when you want something special but simple. Let’s dive into the recipe and make your kitchen a hub of aromatic goodness!
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 14 lbs | Turkey |
| 1 | Onion |
| 1 | Apple |
| 1 | Lemon |
| – | Bacon |
| 6 cups | Turkey broth |
| 3 cups | Water |
| 1 | Onion (for stuffing) |
| 2 | Sun-dried tomatoes |
| 1 cup | Dried mushroom |
| 6 | Peppercorns |
| 1 | Bacon (for stuffing) |
| 2 | Celery stalks |
| 1 clove | Garlic |
| 1 | Egg |
| 6 cups | Bread cubes |
| 1 | Fresh parsley |
| 1 | Apple (for stuffing) |
| 2/3 tsp | Savory |
| 1 tsp | Salt |
| 1 tsp | Pepper |
Instructions:
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Preheat oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (163°C), ensuring it’s at the perfect temperature for roasting the turkey to juicy perfection.
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Prepare the Turkey: Place the onion, apple, and half a lemon inside the turkey cavity, reserving the other half of the lemon. Optionally, place some lemon in the neck cavity as well. Then, carefully position the turkey breast side down on an oiled rack in a roasting pan.
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Season the Turkey: Sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over the turkey, ensuring each bite is infused with flavor.
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Roast the Turkey: Allow the turkey to roast uncovered for approximately 2 hours, basting it occasionally with the pan juices to ensure it remains moist and flavorful.
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Flip and Cover: Using clean oven mitts or disposable latex gloves for convenience, gently turn the turkey breast side up. Squeeze the remaining lemon half over the turkey breast and cover it with bacon slices, enhancing both flavor and moisture retention.
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Continue Roasting: Return the turkey to the oven and continue roasting, basting occasionally, for another 2 hours or until it reaches the desired level of doneness. Use a meat thermometer to ensure it’s cooked perfectly.
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Prepare Giblet Stock: While the turkey is roasting, prepare the giblet stock by combining all the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer partly covered for 1 hour. Strain the mixture, reserving the liquid to add to the gravy later.
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Prepare the Apple Stuffing: In a skillet, cook the bacon until crisp, then set it aside. In the same skillet, add onion, celery, and garlic, cooking until soft, and then set them aside. In a large bowl, combine the cooked bacon, onion, celery, garlic, and lemon juice. Add in the bread cubes, diced apple, egg, parsley, savory, salt, and pepper, mixing until well combined.
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Bake the Stuffing: Spoon the prepared stuffing into a greased baking dish, ensuring it’s evenly distributed. Cover the dish with foil and place it in the oven alongside the turkey for 30 minutes.
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Final Touches: After 30 minutes, remove the foil from the baking dish, stir the stuffing, and add some juices from the turkey for added flavor. Continue baking the stuffing uncovered until it turns golden brown, filling your kitchen with irresistible aromas.
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Serve and Enjoy: Once the turkey and stuffing are cooked to perfection, remove them from the oven. Carve the turkey, serve it alongside the golden-brown apple stuffing, and revel in the deliciousness of your culinary masterpiece!
Conclusion:
With its juicy turkey and flavorful apple stuffing, this Easy Roast Turkey with Apple Stuffing recipe is sure to become a favorite at your dinner table. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply craving a comforting meal, this dish delivers both simplicity and sophistication in every bite. Gather your ingredients, follow the steps, and prepare to impress your guests with a dish they’ll remember long after the last bite. Happy cooking! 🍽️🍎
