- prep: 1 hr
- cook: 4 hr
- total: 5 hr
Summary
Sage is to turkey what cinnamon is to apples; they go together like bread and butter. The seasoned butter on this bird is a bright and herbal mix of chopped sage leaves and fresh orange and lemon zest, which bathes the breast with the essence of the Thanksgiving aroma. For the all-important gravy, we offer two homemade options for stock, as well as store-bought chicken broth. We can't rave enough about the gravy made from the brown turkey stock. Trust us when we say it produces the most soul-satisfying sauce, and because it's not dependent on the giblets from your turkey, it can be made weeks ahead and frozen. If you're hosting a smaller group for Thanksgiving this year, such as a group of four, or perhaps even just the two of you, we suggest forgoing the whole bird for a turkey breast with the same prep. Editor's Note: This recipe is part of our Gourmet Modern Menu for Thanksgiving for 2 or 20. Menu also includes: Roasted Butternut Squash Ribbons with Arugula, Pancetta, and Hazelnut Salad; Mashed Potato and Cauliflower Gratin; Cabernet-Cranberry Sauce with Figs; Challah, Sausage, and Dried Cherry Stuffing; and for dessert, Apple Crostata with Spiced Caramel Sauce .
Ingredients
- 1 (13- to 15-pound) turkey at room temperature 1 hour, any feathers and quills removed with tweezers or needle-nose pliers, and neck and giblets removed and reserved for giblet stock or another use if desired
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, well softened
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh sage leaves
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 navel orange
- 1 medium red onion, cut into wedges
- 3 to 4 cups brown turkey stock, giblet stock, or low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 small metal skewers; kitchen string; large flameproof roasting pan (not glass) with a flat rack; instant-read thermometer; 2-quart glass measure
Instructions
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Tags
Nutrition

- Servings Per Recipe: 8
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 648 % Daily Value *
- Total Fat: 13 g 20.45%
- Saturated Fat: 8 g 39.38%
- Trans Fat: 0 g %
- Cholesterol: 36 mg 12.13%
- Sodium: 141 mg 5.87%
- Calcium: 52 mg 5.17%
- Potassium: 77 mg 2.21%
- Magnesium: 0 mg 0%
- Iron: 3 mg 18.97%
- Zinc: 0 mg 0%
- Total Carbohydrate: 129 g %
- Dietary Fiber: 1 g 5.86%
- Sugar: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Alcohol: 0 g
- Omega 3 Fatty Acid: 0 g
- Omega 6 Fatty Acid: 0 g
- Vitamin A 12.4%
- Vitamin C 24.7%
- Vitamin D 0%
- * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
- Exchange - Fat3
- Exchange - Fruit0
- Exchange - NonFat Milk0
- Exchange - Other Carbs0
- Exchange - Starch8
- Exchange - Vegetables0
- Exchange - Lean Meat0
- Exchange - Alcohol0
- MyPlate - Grain Total5 oz-eq
- MyPlate - Vegetable Total0 c
- MyPlate - Fruit0 c
- MyPlate - Dairy0 c
- MyPlate - Protein Total0 oz-eq