Clementine, thyme and bay roast turkey

Method

1. For the stuffing, warm the 50g butter in a small frying pan with the garlic and cook gently over a low heat for 10 minutes. Stir in the breadcrumbs, then set aside to cool. In a large mixing bowl, use your hands to combine the sausagemeat with the tomatoes, herbs, nutmeg, zest, seasoning and the cooled garlic butter crumbs.
2. Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Gently ease the skin away from the neck end of the turkey and use your fingers to carefully spread the 100g butter under and over the skin. Season inside the cavity, then stuff the neck end with the stuffing.
3. Put the celery and onion in a large, roomy roasting tin. Sit the stuffed turkey on top, then roast for 30 minutes. Turn down the heat to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4, cover with foil (securing well) and roast for 1 hour 40 minutes – see Know-how – basting occasionally with the juices.
Recipe continues after advertising
Advertisement
4. For the last 30 minutes of the cooking time, add the herbs and clementines. Baste everything with the juices, then return to the oven.
5. The turkey is cooked when it reaches 70°C on a digital probe thermometer or the juices run clear when you pierce the thickest part of the thigh with a skewer. Rest the turkey, loosely covered in its foil, somewhere warm. Turn up the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6 to cook the rest of your Christmas lunch (the turkey will keep hot for 1-2 hours).
6. Serve on a warm platter with the clementines and any additional trimmings. Save the pan juices to make gravy, if you like.