Roasted Turkey With Scrumptious Chestnut Stuffing Recipes

Steps:

• First make the stuffing. Pour the madeira or wine into a bowl, then crumble in the mushrooms. Fry the onions in the butter for 10 mins, until golden. Cool, then mix with the thyme leaves, the mushrooms and their soaking liquid, and all remaining ingredients, apart from 8 of the chestnuts and the bacon. Season well.
• Set aside half of the stuffing. Line a greased 500g loaf tin with bacon. Pack the rest of the stuffing into the tin, then bring the rashers round over the top and secure in place with cocktail sticks. Use the reserved chestnuts to fill the spaces where the bacon meets. Chill until ready to cook. This will keep in the fridge uncooked for 2 days or can be frozen for up to a month.
• Prepare the turkey. The night before, put the onion quarters, reserved lemon halves and thyme sprigs in the cavity between the legs. Pack the reserved stuffing into the neck end. Secure the neck skin with skewers and tie the legs together. Weigh the turkey. Calculate the cooking time at 40 mins per kilo, plus 20 mins.
• Put a large sheet of extra-wide foil in a large roasting tin and put the turkey on top. Smear the breast with the butter, then grate over half of the nutmeg and season well. Cover with bacon, then pour over the glass of madeira or wine. Seal the foil well to make a parcel. Chill overnight.
• On the day, take the turkey out of the fridge 1 hr before roasting. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put the turkey in the oven; then, 90 mins before the end of cooking, remove foil and bacon, and drain off the juices from the tin to use in the gravy. To test whether the turkey is cooked, push a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - the juices should run clear. If they are pinkish, cook for 15 mins more, then test again.
• Transfer the turkey to a platter, cover with foil, then a couple of tea towels, and allow to rest for at least 30 mins before carving. Meanwhile, cook the stuffing loaf for 30 mins and reheat the bacon. Garnish with watercress and serve the stuffing loaf separately.

Steps:

• 1. FOR TURKEY BRINE: Combine all brine ingredients except for turkey and ice in a large stockpot, or work in even batches in a smaller pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then bring down to a simmer for about ten minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
• 2. Pour brine into a container wide enough so that the turkey can lay breast side down. Remove giblets from turkey and reserve for gravy or another use. Lower turkey into brine, and add ice. Cover and let stand overnight.
• 3. Meanwhile, prep the stuffing for the following day by first, roasting chestnuts. Pre-heat oven to 425. Cut a shallow cross into the flat side of each chestnut, careful not to pierce the shell through to the flesh. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for about 15 mins. Chestnuts are easier to peel when they are still hot, so let them cool just enough to handle them before peeling with your hands. Make sure to get all the shells and peels off completely. Coarsely chop the flesh.
• 4. Mix the chestnuts and the chopped onion and celery, cover, and chill until ready to use.
• 5. Spread the bread slices, six at a time, on a baking sheet. Pre-heat broiler and broil bread in two batches, about 2-3 minutes on each side until bread is an even tan on both sides.
• 6. Let the bread cool completely before cubing each slice into 1/2 in cubes. Pour bread and any loose crumbs into a large bowl and let sit overnight to completely dry out.
• 7. Rub a brush or paper towel over cremini mushrooms to remove any dirt and moisture. Make sure they are completely dry. Slice mushrooms to a medium thickness and spread on a paper plate. Cover with a second paper plate and place into the coldest part of your refrigerator; away from any humidity or moisture.
• 8. When turkey is ready to be removed from the brine, first remove the chestnut/veggie mixture from the fridge. Combine mixture with mushrooms. Heat oil in a very large saucepan or dutch oven over medium high heat. Carefully stir in mixture. Stir and simmer until vegetables are just soft. Stir in toasted bread and crumbs, seasonings and parsley. Heat for about a minute more, then stir in broth. Continue to heat and stir until mixture is combined, hot, and moist, about three minutes. Remove from heat, cover,and keep very warm.
• 9. For turkey oven prep, mix thyme and unsalted butter. Loosen turkey skin in breasts and drumsticks, and spread butter mixture under the skin, pressing so that the turkey is as evenly covered as possible. Turn turkey breast side down and lay neck skin flat so neck cavity is exposed.
• 10. Using gloves, stuff turkey neck cavity ONLY with very warm stuffing, filling in as much as possible. Pull neck skin up to wings to hold stuffing in place. Fold wings over neck skin and tie with kitchen string to hold them in place --- using metal skewers or poultry pins if necessary.
• 11. Turn turkey breast side up and tie legs together with kitchen string. Brush vermouth over entire surface of turkey skin and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pre-heat oven to 350 and roast turkey in a large roasting pan on a roasting rack for 4-6 hours or until thermometer reading from a thigh reaches 160 degrees. Baste turkey when fat renders, but only about once an hour. Let turkey rest about 40 minutes before carving. Remove wings and carve neck side first, and get a little bit of stuffing inside each slice. Serve with giblet gravy.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. To make the stuffing, in a large skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add celery and onions; cook, stirring, until translucent, about 10 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons thyme, and sage, parsley, chestnuts, and bread. Add stock, 1/2 cup at a time, until bread becomes moist. Stir in pears; remove from heat.
• Place remaining 1 stick butter, remaining 2 tablespoons thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt in food processor. Pulse until well combined; set aside.
• Wash turkey, and pat dry. Place, breast side up, on a roasting rack set in a large roasting pan. Season turkey cavity with remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Fill cavity loosely with stuffing. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Fold neck flap over; secure with skewers. Rub thyme-butter mixture all over turkey.
• Roast for 2 1/2 hours, basting often. Continue baking 30 to 45 minutes more, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 180 degrees. If turkey becomes too brown, tent it with aluminum foil. Let cool for 20 to 30 minutes before carving.

Steps:

• Spread bread cubes in single layers on baking sheets. Let dry at room temperature, uncovered, overnight.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add chestnuts; cook until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain; let cool slightly. Peel and quarter chestnuts; set aside. Peeled chestnuts can be refrigerated in an airtight container 2 to 3 days.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and celery; cook, stirring, until onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add sage; cook 3 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup stock; cook until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer onion mixture to a large bowl. Add remaining 4 1/2 cups stock, the chestnuts, bread, salt, and parsley; season with pepper. Toss to combine. If not stuffing turkey, transfer to a buttered 17-by-12-inch baking dish. Cover; bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake until hot and golden brown, 30 minutes more.