Flat Roasted Garlic Herb Turkey

Flat Roasted Garlic Herb Turkey - a delicious, flavour infused turkey roasted to juicy perfection in much less time than a stuffed turkey.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Author Barry C. Parsons

3/4 cup softened butter
3 cloves minced garlic
6 tbsp chopped fresh herbs sage, rosemary and thyme work well but use what you like
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt

Using a sharp chef knife or meat cleaver, cut through all the bones along one side of the turkey's spine. Have your butcher do this if you are not comfortable doing it.
Push down firmly at the center breast bone so that the turkey lies flat.
Using your fingertips, carefully loosen the skin from the breast and thighs of the turkey so that you can insert your hand and push some garlic herb butter between the skin and meat.
Pat the skin with your plam to evenly spread the garlic herb butter over the surface of the turkey.
Place the flat turkey on a wire rack, on a large baking sheet. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Do not cover the turkey. Open roast it for 30 minutes before reducing the temperature to 350 degrees F for another hour or so, until the turkey is fully cooked. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the center of the thickest part of the breast meat has reached a minimum of 170 degrees F.
Never carve a turkey straight out of the oven, this can cause the meat to release too much moisture too quickly and result in a dry turkey. Always let a turkey rest, covered in aluminum foil, for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing and serving.