1wholeturkeygiblets removed; 12-15 lb / 5.4-6.8 kg
7tablespoons butteror just under ½ cup; softened
3largelemons1 sliced, 2 reserved for roasting
6piecesfresh bay leaveswhole
Honey And Spiced Glazed Turkey:
2teaspoonschili powder
½teaspoongarlic powder
¼teaspoonground allspice
¼teaspoonground cumin
¼teaspoonsalt
⅛teaspoonground red pepper
2tablespoonshoney
1teaspooncold water
1wholeturkeyneck and giblets removed; 15 lb / 6.8 kg
2tablespoonsvegetable oil
Instructions
Lemon And Bay Basted Turkey:
Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C (170°C fan-forced). Soften 100 grams of butter in a bowl at room temperature.
Put your fingers under the turkey breast to loosen it. Spread the softened butter under the skin of the turkey, lay the sliced lemon under the skin along with the bay leaves and cover the turkey in foil.
Roast the turkey covered in foil, allowing approximately 20 minutes per pound (45 minutes per kg). 30 minutes before the end of the calculated cooking time, remove the foil, halve the 2 remaining lemons and place them cut-side down around the turkey. Return to the oven uncovered for the final 30 minutes until the skin is golden and the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F / 74°C on an instant-read thermometer.
Allow Turkey to stand for 15-20 minutes before you carve.
Honey And Spiced Glazed Turkey:
First, preheat the oven to 325°F / 160°C (140°C fan-forced). In a separate bowl, mix chili powder, garlic powder, allspice, cumin, salt, red pepper, honey and water until it is well mixed. Remove the neck and giblets from the body and neck cavities of the turkey.
Place the turkey breast-side up on a large roasting pan (at least 16 x 13 inches / 40 x 33 cm) fitted with a flat rack. Smear the turkey with oil.
Roast it in the preheated oven for a total of 3 ½ hours. Make sure you cover the breast and top of drumsticks loosely with foil to prevent overcooking.
45 minutes before the end of the total cooking time, remove the foil and brush the turkey generously all over with the honey-spice mixture.
Return the turkey to the oven uncovered for the remaining 45 minutes, or until the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F / 74°C on an instant-read thermometer. If the glaze begins to darken too quickly, loosely tent with foil. Remove from the oven and let the turkey rest, loosely tented in foil, for at least 15-20 minutes before carving.