Just about everyone who’s cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner or another holiday get-together has their favorite technique to prepare the bird.
These days, a lot of people are turning to brining their turkey before cooking it, whether it’s in the oven, on the grill or in a deep fryer.
But many still like to roast their bird — often stuffed with a bread dressing of some sort — the traditional way, basting the turkey in its own juices and perhaps smearing on some butter for the last hour or brown the skin nicely.
Here’s another method preferred by some. It calls for coating the turkey with a rub before roasting it.
The recipe from McCormick, the spice people, features a sage, garlic powder, groound nutmeg and paprika rub that’s sure to bring mouthwatering aroma and show-stopping flavor to this holiday favorite.
Savory Herb Rub Roasted Turkey
2 tablespoons sage or poultry seasoning
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 12- to 14-pound whole turkey, fresh or frozen, thawed
1 large onion, cut into wedges
6 bay leaves
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Place oven rack in lowest position. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place roasting rack in shallow roasting pan. Mix sage, paprika, seasoned salt, garlic powder, pepper and nutmeg in small bowl.
Place turkey, breast-side up, in prepared pan. Sprinkle about 1/2 of the seasoning mixture inside turkey. Stuff with onion and bay leaves. Brush turkey breast with oil. Spread remaining seasoning mixture over entire surface and under skin of turkey. Add 1/2 cup water to pan. Cover turkey loosely with heavy duty foil.
Roast 1 hour. Remove foil. Roast 2 to 2 1/2 hours longer or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees (175 degrees in thigh), basting occasionally with pan juices. Remove turkey from oven. Let stand 20 minutes. Transfer to platter or carving board to slice. Reserve pan juices to make gravy or to serve with turkey.
Yield: Serves 12.
Tip: For easy cleanup, line roasting pan with heavy duty foil.
Approximate nutritional analysis per serving: 538 calories, 26 grams fat, 3 grams carbohydrates, 212 milligrams cholesterol, 558 milligrams sodium:, 1 gram fiber, 73 grams protein.