Classic turkey with trimmings

Classic roast British turkey with all the trimmings, including cranberries, stuffing and chestnuts.

Serves: 12

Calories per portion: 771
Fat per portion: 21g

Stuffing:
30ml/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 red onion, chopped
50g/2oz dried cranberries
zest and juice 1 lemon
175g/6oz fresh white breadcrumbs
200g/7oz ready cooked and peeled chestnuts, chopped
60ml4 tbsp each chopped fresh sage and fresh parsley
225g/8oz sausagemeat
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Turkey:
1 (5.4kg/12lb) oven-ready British Turkey, giblets removed
12 rashers rindless smoked streaky bacon
6 chipolata sausages, twisted in half to make 12
12 pitted no-soak prunes
50g/2oz butter
30ml/2tbsp plain flour
900ml/1 1/2pt turkey stock

To serve: Roast potatoes, parsnips and mixed vegetables

1. Make stuffing: heat oil in a pan and fry onion for 4 mins. Add cranberries, lemon zest and juice; remove from heat. In a large bowl, mix remaining stuffing ingredients with onions; season.
2. Prepare trimmings: stretch bacon rashers with back of a knife; cut in half. Wrap a piece of bacon around each of the sausages and prunes. Place seam side down in a roasting tray, cover and chill until required.
3. Stuff the turkey: Preheat oven to 190C/Fan 170C/375F/Gas Mark 5. Spoon stuffing into neck cavity of turkey, then tuck skin flap underneath; secure with cocktail sticks. Roll any remaining stuffing into balls and roast with bacon rolls.
4. Truss and weigh turkey: tie string around leg joints, then around parsons nose, under the bird and up over the wings. Tie tightly to secure shape. Weigh turkey, then calculate cooking time: allow 20 mins per kg + 90 minutes. Place in a large roasting tin. Spread all over with butter and season. Loosely cover with foil.
5. Roast turkey for the calculated time, basting occasionally with the pan juices. Remove foil for final 45 mins, to crisp skin; roast bacon rolls and stuffing balls above the turkey for 20 mins. Check turkey is cooked by piercing thigh with a skewer - the juices should run clear. Transfer turkey to serving plate, cover with foil and rest in a warm place for 20 mins, this makes carving easier.
6. Make gravy: spoon off excess fat from juices in roasting tin. Place tin on a low heat, add flour and cook, stirring for 1 min. Gradually stir in stock and bring to boil. Simmer for 5 mins, stirring occasionally then strain into a warm gravy boat.

www.britishturkey.co.uk

Where to next?
Christmas recipe guide
Back to turkey recipes gallery
Christmas money saving tips

Send in your Christmas recipes and you could win celeb cookbooks.

Cook your turkey to perfection with our instant defrosting an cooking times: