Split Roast Turkey Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450. Use a sharp knife to remove the turkey's backbone. (Reserve the backbone to make stock.) Turn the turkey over, and press on it very hard to flatten the breast; dislocate the thigh joint where it meets the torso.
• Put the bird breast side up in a large roasting pan. The wings should partly cover the breasts, and the legs should protrude a bit. Tuck the garlic and herbs under the bird's skin and in the nooks of the wings and legs; smear with butter (or drizzle with olive oil), and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
• Roast for 20 minutes, undisturbed. Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables and put them in a roasting pan and drizzle with 3 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper and some of the herbs; don't crowd the pan. Put in the oven.
• If the turkey is browning too quickly, reduce the oven temperature to 400; begin to check it after about 55 minutes of total cooking; it's done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 155. Cook the vegetables until slightly caramelized and soft; if necessary, they can continue to cook while the turkey rests before carving.
• Separate the turkey's legs from the torso and slice; slice the breast as well. Pass the meat on a platter with the vegetables.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place a roasting rack on a baking sheet.
• Turn the turkey over, breast-side down. Using a pair of sharp heavy-duty kitchen shears, cut along one side of the backbone. Repeat on the other side of the backbone. Reserve the backbone for making turkey stock for gravy. Press firmly down onto both sides of turkey to flatten.
• Tuck the wing tips under the turkey and place on the roasting rack. Pat skin dry and rub olive oil over the entire turkey; season with salt, sage, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour 30 minutes, rotating baking sheet every 30 minutes. Increase temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and roast until skin is crisp, about 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove turkey from the oven, cover loosely with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, toss the sage leaves, rosemary and thyme branches, and parsley leaves together. With poultry shears, cut along each side of the the backbone of the turkey (and save for stock). Spread the turkey as flat as possible, skin side down on a clean surface; with a meat cleaver or large knife carefully cut through the entire breast bone of the turkey, creating two even-sized turkey breast halves with leg and wing attached (or have the butcher do this). Rub 2 tablespoons of the butter evenly over all parts and under the skin of each turkey half and generously season all over with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the bottom of the roasting pan with 4 tablespoons of the herbs. Fit each turkey half into the pan. Add the garlic and cover with the remaining herbs. Roast the turkey uncovered on the lower third of the oven for 1 1/2 hours or until an internal temperature of 160°F is reached. Remove the turkey from the roasting pan and let rest covered for 20 minutes before serving. Strain the drippings from the roasting pan into a measuring cup, pressing the herbs and garlic into the strainer. Set aside and allow the drippings to separate. Dredge the giblets on a large dinner plate in 2 tablespoons of the flour. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the bottom of the roasting pan over medium heat. Add the giblets and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden and set aside. Melt the remaining butter in the roasting pan over medium heat until bubbly. Gradually whisk the remaining flour into the butter and stir until smooth and lightly brown. Separate the drippings from the fat and add only the drippings to the roux, whisking for two to three minutes or until thick and bubbly. Add half the stock into the flour and continue stirring until smooth. Add the remaining stock and let gravy reduce and thicken before adding the wine. Finely chop the giblets, stir in the cream, giblets, and hard cooked eggs (if using). Serve immediately.