Carlow people! Here's how to make the perfect turkey this Christmas for your loved ones
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Roast Turkey With Sage & Onion Butter and Marsala Gravy
(Serves 8 with leftovers)
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 4hrs 45mins
Ingredients
7kg fresh turkey
2 onions
1 lemon
75g soft butter
3tbsp finely chopped fresh sage
2tbsp plain flour
200ml Marsala wine or Madeira
400- 500ml hot chicken stock
1tbsp cranberry jelly
Salt and pepper
METHOD
Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas mark 3-4
Place the turkey in a large roasting tin.
Tuck three of the onion halves and the lemon quarters into the cavity and season.
Cover with foil and make sure theres plenty of space between the turkey and foil for the air to circulate and seal the edges tightly, so that no steam escapes.
Roast for four hours.
While the turkey is cooking, finely chop the remaining onion half, and mix with the butter and sage.
Take the turkey out of the oven and raise the temp to 200C/ 180C fan/ gas mark 6.
Brush the sage and onion butter all over the turkey and return to the oven, uncovered, for 45 minutes until crisp and dark golden.
If you're making the roasties, then start them in the oven when the turkey goes back in, uncovered.
Transfer the turkey to a warm serving plate, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 30 minutes.
Tip the juices out of the pan into a bowl, leave for a moment to settle, then scoop the buttery oil from the surface into a separate bowl.
Spoon two tablespoons of this oil back into the tin and return to the heat.
Stir the flour into the tin using a wooden spoon, scraping the residue off the bottom of the tin as you go.
Cook for two minutes, then stir in the Marsala or Madeira and bring to the boil.
Make the reserved turkey juices up to 500ml using hot chicken stock and pour into the tin. Bring to the boil and simmer for a few minutes, then add cranberry jelly.
Keep warm until ready to serve.