This golden herb-citrus turkey makes the perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece. Dressed with fresh cranberries, orange slices and fresh thyme, this heart-healthy showstopper is sure to become a holiday tradition.
Recipe yields 10 servings
Preheat oven to 425°.
Rinse the turkey and pat it dry. Season the cavity of the turkey with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the black pepper. Stuff the cavity with the halved orange, halved lemon, onion, garlic, thyme and sage.
Rub the turkey skin with the olive oil and season with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
On a flat surface, arrange the turkey, breast side up, legs facing you. Place kitchen twine under the legs and pull up around the legs to tie legs together. Flip turkey over, with breast side down and legs facing you. Pull twine around wings and tie together. Place the turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
Pour the chicken stock into the roasting pan and transfer to the oven. Roast the turkey for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Make a triangle-shaped piece of foil and cover turkey breast. Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the breast. Return the turkey to the oven. Continue to roast the turkey for about 2 hours, basting every 30 minutes, or until the meat thermometer registers 165°.
Remove the turkey from oven. Let stand 15 minutes. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, sage leaves, cranberries, orange slices and lemon or lime slices.