Roast Turkey with Herb Butter and Caramelized-Onion Gravy by Rochelle Palermo Torres

INGREDIENTS:

1. 1/2 cup butter
2. 4 large onions, thinly sliced
3. 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
4. 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
5. 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6. 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
7. 3 tablespoons honey
8. 6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
9. 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
10. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
11. 21 pounds turkey; neck, heart, and gizzard reserved
12. 1 large onion, quartered
13. 4 1/2 cups low-salt chicken broth
14. 2 large fresh rosemary sprigs
15. 2 large fresh thyme sprigs
16. 1 bay leaf
17. 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

COOKING DIRECTIONS:

1. For gravy base: Melt butter in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute until deep brown, about 40 minutes. Mix in rosemary and thyme, then flour; stir 1 minute. Add vinegar and honey; simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
2. For turkey: Mix butter and herbs in small bowl. Rinse turkey inside and out; pat dry. Place on rack set in large roasting pan. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Starting at neck end, slide hand between skin and breast meat to loosen skin. Spread 1/4 cup herb butter over breast meat under skin. Rub remaining butter over outside of turkey. Place turkey parts and onion quarters in pan around turkey. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
3. Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. If stuffing turkey, spoon stuffing loosely into main cavity and neck cavity. Tuck wing tips under; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Roast turkey uncovered 1 hour. Tent turkey breast and tops of drumsticks loosely with foil; roast 1 hour longer. Add 1 cup broth, herb sprigs, and bay leaf to drippings in pan. Continue to roast until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 175 degrees F, basting with 3/4 cup broth and pan juices every 30 minutes, about 2 hours 30 minutes longer for unstuffed and 3 hours longer for stuffed. Transfer turkey to platter; let stand 30 minutes (internal temperature will increase 5 to 10 degrees).
4. Strain pan juices into 8-cup measuring cup; spoon fat off top. Heat gravy base over medium heat. Whisk in flour, then pan juices. Boil until gravy is reduced to 7 cups, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve turkey with gravy.

Yield: 14 servings

NUTRITION INFO Per Serving:

• Calories: 1181 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 12 g
• Dietary Fiber: 1 g
• Fat: 60 g
• Protein: 139 g
• Sugars: 8 g