Description
A technique passed down from generations—drenching cheesecloth in melted butter and oil, then draping the cloth over the turkey before roasting—helps give the bird beautiful golden-brown skin. The technique also results in juicy, moist breast meat.
Ingredients
- 1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 1 cup canola oil
- 2 cups tangerine juice
- 2 to 3 cups chicken broth
- 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Directions
- Preheat oven to 325°. Remove giblets from turkey; cover and refrigerate for gravy. Pat turkey dry; place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Rub softened butter over turkey.
- In a large saucepan, melt cubed butter; stir in oil. Saturate a 4-layered 17-in. square of cheesecloth in butter mixture; drape over turkey.
- Add tangerine juice to remaining butter mixture. Bake turkey, uncovered, 3 hours; baste with tangerine juice mixture every 30 minutes, keeping cheesecloth moist at all times.
- Remove and discard cheesecloth. Bake turkey 45 minutes to 1-1/4 hours longer or until a thermometer inserted in the thigh reads 170°-175°, basting occasionally with pan drippings. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.
- Remove turkey to a serving platter; cover and let stand 20 minutes before carving. Pour drippings and loosened brown bits into a measuring cup. Skim fat, reserving 1/3 cup drippings. Add enough broth to remaining drippings to measure 4 cups.
- For gravy, chop reserved giblets. In a large saucepan, saute giblets in reserved fat until browned. Stir in flour until blended; gradually stir in broth mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with turkey.
