Gourmet Thanksgiving Feast
Daily Recipe: November 28, 2024
Embrace the festivity of Thanksgiving with this classic 'Gourmet Thanksgiving Feast!' This delectable menu features a blend of the traditional and the iconic, with a beautifully presented, juicy Herb-Roasted Turkey at the centerpiece, complemented by creative, vibrant sides. The key ingredients here bring out the essence of the season - with the warmth of fresh herbs, the sweetness of cranberries and pumpkins, and the comfort of fluffy potatoes.
Ingredients (for 8)
- Whole turkey - 1 (12 pound) - neck and giblets reserved
- Garlic cloves - 4 - minced
- Fresh thyme - 1 tablespoon - minced
- Fresh rosemary - 1 tablespoon - minced
- Olive oil - 2 tablespoons
- Salt - to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- Potatoes - 4 lbs
- Milk - 1/2 cup
- Salted butter -
- Cranberries - 2 cups
- Oranges - 2
- Large pumpkin - 1
- Heavy cream - 1/2 cup
- Gruyère - 1 cup - shredded
- Fresh herbs - optional - garnish
- Almond slivers - optional - garnish
Preparation
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Step 1 - 🔥⏲️🍽️Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and position your rack in the lowest part of the oven.
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Step 2 - 🦃💦🧂Rinse the turkey and pat it dry. Add a liberal sprinkle of salt, herbs and garlic inside the turkey cavity. Tie the legs together and tuck the wing tips under the turkey body.
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Step 3 - 🦃🖌️🌿Brush the turkey with oil, season with salt and herbs. Make sure to thoroughly coat it.
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Step 4 - 🥩🌡️🕓Place the turkey, breast side up, on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Roast for around 15 minutes per pound, or until a thermometer reads 165°F (73°C).
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Step 5 - 🦃⛺⌛Once roasted, remove the turkey from the oven. Loosely tent it with aluminum foil and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving.
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Step 6 - 🥔🍴🥬While the turkey is resting, mash boiled potatoes with butter and milk, prepare a simple cranberry orange relish, roast slices of pumpkin with a cream & cheese topping until golden and blanch green beans, tossing them with almond slivers.
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Step 7 - 🦃🍽️😄Present your perfectly roasted turkey alongside the delicious sides you've prepared on your table and serve warmly.
Additional
For a fun twist, add some chopped bacon or pancetta to your green beans and top your mashed potatoes with grated Parmesan for a crispy crust. To ease your kids into helping, get them to wash and prepare the veggies or mash the potatoes. Remember, Thanksgiving is about creating warm memories more than it's about the perfect dish. So don't stress, enjoy cooking and have a splendid Thanksgiving!