Perfect Christmas Turkey

Total Time: 14 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 13 hrs Cook Time: 1 hr 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 kg salt
• 10 liters water
• 4 tablespoons thyme
• 20 juniper berries
• 1 (5 kg) turkey
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 liters chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons sage
• 150 g butter
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns

Recipe

• 1 bring salt, water, thyme and berries to a simmer in a large pot, then set aside to cool.
• 2 put turkey in a large basin, at least twice as large as the bird.
• 3 pour the brine over the turkey, cover, and rset aside in a cool dark place for 12 hours.
• 4 preheat oven to 150°c put the turkey in a large baking dish, on a rack, drizzle with oil and bake for 40 minutes.
• 5 bring stock, sage, butter, and peppercorns to the boil and baste the turkey.
• 6 bake for 45 minutes, basting every 20 minutes.
• 7 turn the oven up to 220c and bake for a further 10 minutes.
• 8 remove turkey from oven, cover with foil and a towel, and rest for 15 minutes.