Thanksgiving Turkey
- Joe S.
- Nov 13, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 14, 2021
The most delicious turkey you will ever make for the Holidays!
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: varies from 2.5 hours to 6 hours
Serves up to 12 people, depending on the size of the turkey
Gluten/Dairy/Soy/Nuts free
It is that time of the year again: Thanksgiving! Lots of cooking and hungry mouths to feed! But don't worry...I am here to help with the most important part of dinner and center piece: the turkey!
This beautiful turkey packs a lot of flavor and has a succulent crispy skin. It is just perfect!
Cooking a turkey is really not that hard. I only requires patience and time. This recipe is so simple that anyone can do it, and the final results are just visually stunning and spectacularly delicious!
The herbs and lemons used on this recipe is what makes it so flavorful. The best part is that all the herbs are very easily found in your fridge or at your local grocers.
What is the flavor profile?
Herbaceous, tangy, aromatic, savory, and a hint of spicy.
What ingredients will I need to make this turkey?
Fresh herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme), lemons, garlic, garlic powder, ground sage, onion powder, paprika, sea salt, black pepper, crushed pepper flakes, olive oil, and of course...a whole turkey.
What else will i need to make this?
A large turkey pan with a rack, measuring cups and spoons, a cutting board, a knife, a small container to mix the rub in, and aluminum foil.
Can I make substitutions?
Yes. You can substitute the sea salt with kosher salt, the paprika with smoked paprika, and the olive oil with vegetable oil.
What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia, and the sub-national entities Leiden, Norfolk Island, and the inhabited territories of the United States. It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.
Similarly named festival holidays occur in Germany and Japan. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and Brazil, and around the same part of the year in other places. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.
Are there other Thanksgiving Recipes on this website?
Yes...visit the Thanksgiving tab found in the "Recipes" section for more recipes or....just click here.
INGREDIENTS
Rub Ingredients
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
3 sprigs of fresh sage
5 sprigs of fresh thyme
3 tablespoons of garlic powder
3 tablespoons of onion powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon of ground sage
8 tablespoons sea salt
3 tablespoons of black pepper
1 teaspoon of crushed pepper flakes
Other Ingredients
A whole turkey
3 lemons
3 heads of garlic
8 cloves of garlic (peeled)
Olive oil
Method for the Rub
Chop fresh rosemary, thyme and sage.
In a bowl add the chopped herbs and the rest of the ingredients.
Mix well.
Double the quantity of the prepared rub for fowls over 16 pounds.
Method for the Turkey
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Pat dry turkey with paper towels.
Rub turkey generously with Olive oil.
Halve the lemons and garlic heads.
Fill turkey cavity with at least 3 tablespoons of the rub.
Insert all lemons and garlic head inside the cavity.
Apply the rest of the rub all over the turkey.
With a knife make small incisions in the turkey and insert a garlic clove in each incision.
Place turkey in baking/roasting dish with a rack and bake according to the following instructions:
After the time is up or the turkey's interior temperature reaches 165° F , remove the turkey from the oven and cover with tin foil, allowing it to rest until serving time.
Enjoy!!!
Printable Recipe (PDF) below:
Comments