The only Christmas turkey recipe you’ll ever need

It's nearly time... aprons at the ready!

Christmas is THIS WEEK. Sorry, how did that happen exactly? It flies in every year, but Christmas 2021 seemed to arrive immediately after August?! If you're anything like me, you're starting to prep the dinner already. The BBC food website practically has steam coming out of it. Pinterest is my boyfriend. My potatoes will get 90% of my attention, because we all know they're the most important element. The two ways I serve sprouts is also a major component. But when it comes to the actual turkey, there is only one recipe I need. An oldie but a goodie, it's Neven Maguire's Roast Crown of Turkey with Sage and Onion Stuffing. You'll thank me (and Nevin) later. The recipe is part of Neven's Complete Famiy Cookbook and I honestly don't know what I did before it. SERVES 6–8 75g (3oz) butter, softened 1 garlic clove, crushed finely grated rind of 1 orange 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme 1 x 5kg (11lb) turkey crown 6 rindless smoked bacon rashers FOR THE STUFFING: 75g (3oz) butter 1 onion, diced 1 tsp chopped fresh sage 50g (2oz) pine nuts, toasted 175g (6oz) fresh white breadcrumbs sea salt and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE GRAVY: 1 tbsp plain flour 300ml (½ pint) chicken stock (page 434) INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F/gas mark 5). 2. To make the stuffing, heat a frying pan and melt the butter. Add the onion and sage and cook for a few minutes, until softened but not coloured. Add the toasted pine nuts, then stir in the breadcrumbs, mixing well to combine. Season to taste. Wrap the stuffing in buttered tin foil and mould into a large sausage shape, then chill until needed. 3. Next, prepare the turkey crown. Cream the butter until very soft, then add the crushed garlic, orange rind, parsley and thyme. Beat well until thoroughly blended. Gently loosen the neck flap away from the turkey breast and pack the flavoured butter right under the skin – this is best done using gloves on your hands. Rub well into the flesh of the turkey, then re-cover the skin and secure with a small skewer or sew with fine twine. Finally, cover the top of the crown with the rashers. 4. Place the turkey crown in the oven and calculate your time – it needs 20 minutes per 450g (1lb) plus 20 minutes, so a 5kg (11lb) crown will take 4 hours and you’ll need to put the stuffing in for the last half an hour. The turkey crown will cook much quicker than a whole turkey, so make sure to keep basting it. You can cover it with foil if it’s browning too quickly. When cooked, cover with foil to rest for 20 minutes and keep warm.

"To test if the turkey crown is cooked, pierce the thickest part with a long clean skewer or knitting needle." says Neven.

5. To make the gravy, skim all the fat from the cooking juices, then pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the juices from the roasting tin. Stir the flour into the pan residue and cook on the hob, stirring over a low heat until golden. Gradually pour in the stock, stirring all the time. Bring to the boil and let it bubble for 2–3 minutes, until thickened. Season to taste and keep warm. 6. To serve, carve the turkey crown into slices and arrange on warmed plates with the slices of cooked stuffing, glazed ham, Brussels sprout, red onion and bacon crumble, warm wild rice salad with sour cranberry sauce and the roasted carrots with garlic and parsley. Pour the gravy into a warmed gravy jug and hand around separately. Yummmm.... enjoy!

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