turkey

roast turkey with spiced cranberry, bacon and walnut stuffing

servings
6-8

method

To make the stuffing, melt the unsalted butter in a saucepan and add the bacon, shallots, celery and rosemary. Cook gently with the lid on for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are very soft, but not coloured. Add the cranberries and half the cider and turn up the heat a little. When the liquid has reduced to a third of its volume, set it aside to cool. Mix in the nutmeg, allspice, some salt and pepper, the walnuts, orange zest, sausage ment and egg, then fold in the breadcrumbs.

Preheat the oven to 240°C/475°F/gas 9. Pat the turkey’s skin dry with kitchen paper, then stuff the neck end with half the stuffing. (You can cook the remaining stuffing separately or use it to make sausage rolls on Boxing Day.) Rub the bird with the softened butter and season well. Place in a roasting tin, cover with foil and pop in the preheated oven. After 15 minutes, turn down the heat to 150°C/300°F/gas 2. Baste, then roast for another 2 to 2¾ hours.

Remove the foil 1 hour before the end of cooking time. To check the bird is cooked, stick a fork into the thickest part of the thigh – the juices should run clear. Remove the turkey from the oven, lift out of the tin, cover with foil then leave to rest for 30 minutes.

Increase the oven temperature to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Skim off the fat in the tin and use it to roast your potatoes. Add the rest of the cider to the meat juices in the tin, along with the meat off the turkey wings and enough stock to cover the bottom of the tin. Stir in the cornflour, dissolved in a little water, and simmer on the hob until thickened. Sieve into a jug and serve with your turkey, stuffing and some roast potatoes.

ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 6 rashers good-quality bacon, sliced into thin strips
• 3 shallots, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 sticks of celery, trimmed and finely chopped
• a sprig of fresh rosemary, leaves picked and chopped
• a large handful of dried cranberries
• 800ml dry cider
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
a handful of chopped walnuts
• zest of 1 orange
• 300g good-quality pork sausage meat
• 1 egg, free-range or organic
• 2 big handfuls of breadcrumbs
• 1 turkey (about 4kg), free-range or organic
• 100g softened butter
• 300ml tub of fresh chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon cornflour

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1. by GillianS on Sun 25 Dec 2011 @ 19:22

This recipe rocks. It made our Christmas dinner perfect

2. by Jo on Wed 21 Dec 2011 @ 08:13

Your chrissy show was awesome, I have cooked many of your wonderful recipes and my family loved everything I cooked thanks to you, I look out for your cook books, recipes, your t.v shows, DVD's .. I think your fantastic.

3. by Sue on Tue 20 Dec 2011 @ 02:43

The reminder of the cider goes in the pan with the meat juices at the end to make the gravy....

4. by helen on Thu 15 Dec 2011 @ 11:52

what happens to the other half of the cider with the cranberry stuffing ???!!!

5. by Wendy N on Tue 04 Oct 2011 @ 06:13

Why am I seeing a picture of a pizza for this receipe for turkey?

6. by sandra sweatman on Mon 06 Dec 2010 @ 17:52

Same request as many people, your wonderful Christmas Turkey also the stuffing recipe. Great idea to make the gravy in advance, I usually freeze left over gravy with a lable as to what the meat was and it helps me as we are only two of us at home now the children have gone. Have lived in Africa for 32 years but cannot forgo a traditional English Christmas.
Have a brilliant Christmas with your lovely family.
Best regards,
Sandra.

7. by Aisling Stephens on Wed 16 Dec 2009 @ 09:59

Hi Jamie,
Loved the program last night and can't wait for the next installment. Just looking for the recipe for kedgeree and the stuffing you made for the Turkey. If you can send them to me or let me know where I can find them I would be most grateful..
Hope you and Jools and the Girls have a Great Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Thanks Again
Aisling

8. by teresa pesca on Fri 02 Jan 2009 @ 14:46

Me too am looking for a recipe shown at TV - a goose recipe for Xmas - but can't find it anywhere in the website.

Please email me if you have it!

Thank you!
best regards Teresa

9. by Nick on Thu 25 Dec 2008 @ 17:31

as many others have e mailed, can you please send me the recipes from the 07 christmas special thanks !

10. by Neil Egan-Ronayne on Wed 24 Dec 2008 @ 14:04

Turkey & Sweet Leek Pie Recipe:

http://www.channel4.com/food/recipes/chefs/jamie-oliver/jamie-s-turkey-and-sweet-leek-pie-recipe_p_1.html

11. by Inga on Wed 24 Dec 2008 @ 12:58

what happens if I use fresh cranberries instead of dried ones? Merry X-Mass!

12. by Anne Bennett on Sun 21 Dec 2008 @ 23:18

Saw your wonderful program today & want to follow your turkey recipe.The Jamie's Christmas Turkey recipe does not give 'this seasoning' recipe to rub on /under the skin of the turkey.
Please help!

13. by Chris Ladd on Sun 21 Dec 2008 @ 15:28

The butter mix that went under the skin of the turkey contained 1 or 2 anchovy filets and the sage leaves were pushed in afterwards over the top of the butter mixture. Can't remember what else it contained but probably pepper and also possibly minced garlic? I would also love to have the full recipe, but will try this mixture anyway.

14. by Deborah on Sun 21 Dec 2008 @ 15:27

Dear Jamie,
I made your roast turkey as per your Holiday Special and it was absolutely perfect. Please do include this latest turkey recipe on your site because it is most certainly, without a doubt, the quintessential Christmas Turkey. Oh, and you must also include directions on how to carve the turkey. Brilliant!
Merry Christmas and thanks for holiday help,
Deborah

15. by samantha on Sun 21 Dec 2008 @ 12:18

cant find recipe for the butter jamie put under the skin of the turkey would love to try it please help

16. by Fernanda on Sat 20 Dec 2008 @ 23:55

Me too am looking for a recipe shown at TV - a goose recipe for Xmas - but can't find it anywhere in the website.

Please email me if you have it!

Thank you!

17. by steve markos on Sat 20 Dec 2008 @ 12:51

I cant find the butter recipe that jamie put under the skin of the turkey, I used it last year and didnt write it down. Everone loved it and they would like me to do it again could you please help me. Wishing you and your family a very happy and safe christmas.

18. by Carmen on Fri 19 Dec 2008 @ 23:52

Ur christmas show was so inspiring! Im a south american and Im planning to mix the latin flaviour with ur recepies!
Thank u for sharing ur secrets!
Merry Christmas

19. by mark on Fri 19 Dec 2008 @ 22:48

hi jamie,can you email me the turkey reciepe that was broadcast last xmas on tv as your new version is different to that one.you said you always place any roasting meat on top of some vegtables in the tin so the meat not directly sitting on the tin.also the way you did the roasting potatoes/parsnips and carrots and if not too much trouble-why can i not find realy tasty brussel sprouts as good when my mum use to do them,i believe the frost has to get to them so they taste delicious.from one ameture adventurious cook to a refreshing inspiring chef heres xmas on you again as last year i did a J.O. xmas and every one loved it though the veggies were a bit soft n not crunchy like they should be especialy the parsnips,but tasted fantastically,thanking you jamie

20. by Jackie Clifford on Fri 19 Dec 2008 @ 14:41

Hi loved the show on chanel 4 18th December, would like the recipes for the left over turkey, I cant find them. No point in doing these lovely recipes if we cant find them to try out for ourselves. x

21. by Brian on Fri 19 Dec 2008 @ 12:28

Made roasties last year as you said they were a hit, can i see a reminder of how to do it again anywhere

22. by Antonio on Thu 18 Dec 2008 @ 03:20

We have watched your show jamie christmas at home here in new zealand and my wife love you roast turkey it is really mouth watering and all your recipes in the show is really great!

If possible can you please send me the recipes you have done in the show because i would to surprise my wife and our relatives this christmas with your recipes!

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

23. by sue bentley on Thu 18 Dec 2008 @ 02:06

last dec 2007 jamie did an exmas turkey with stuffing. my daughter & i used it & it was great. i have since moved house & its lost. the stuffing i remember contained bluberries apricots cranberries & red onions. would it be posible for you to email it to me. thank you sue

24. by Betts on Wed 17 Dec 2008 @ 14:50

Hey Jules,
That program will be aired again this Thursday at 9pm. I missed most of it as my two kid's were competing with each other's crying so I had to watch it with teletext on........looked good though.

25. by Ingrid on Tue 16 Dec 2008 @ 20:46

Hi Jamie,

I saw your Christmas show and was very pleased to see how you prepared the turkey. You make it look so simple. I will attempt to make it on Christmas day. I'm sure everyone will find it delicious.

Enjoy the holidays!

26. by Donna Slack on Tue 16 Dec 2008 @ 15:48

Can´t find the recipes for the herb butter and also the minced pork based Turkey stuffing that were shown on last week´s program - can anyone help as they looked absolutely delicioso??!!

27. by Jules on Mon 15 Dec 2008 @ 16:01

I saw the program where Jamie made delicious roast turkey - can't find the recipe for the butter he used under the skin. I just remember it had sage in. Also would love the recipe for the greens he made - think they had another butter mixture to go with them. I would really appreciate you sending me the recipes so I can blow away the family on Christmas Day!! Thanks x

28. by Ana Penteado on Sun 14 Dec 2008 @ 11:36

Dear Jamie,

I thank you for this easy straightforward X-mas turkey recipe! I had a pre-Christmas party for my friends and I ventured myself to prepare this turkey by myself ( actually with your help). They loved the stuffing which I adapt for prosciotto (instead of pork sausage, bacon and prums! It tasted very good. Thank you and God bless you and your family:)

29. by chiligirlie on Sat 13 Dec 2008 @ 17:51

This recipe i would like to do this xmas

30. by KATE HILL on Fri 12 Dec 2008 @ 19:58

THIS RECIPE LOOKS GREAT IM LEARNING TO BE A CHEF AND LOVE IT IM COOKING XMAS DINNER FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR AND CANT WAIT TO TRY THIS RECIPE OUT.
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE AN AMAZING XMAS

31. by Eva on Fri 12 Dec 2008 @ 17:54

Loved your Christmas show. It was inspiring, fun, and everything looked delish. I plan to incorporate your ideas into my Christmas dinner. Thanks, Jamie.

32. by merkava on Thu 11 Dec 2008 @ 20:18

Guys,

'Jamie at Home' Christmas Special is repeated at the following times:

19th Dec 20:00 Channel 4
7th Dec 20:00 More4
24th Dec 16:40 More4

There's also a new show 'Jamie Cooks Christmas': 18th Dec 21:00 Channel 4

33. by j hughes on Wed 10 Dec 2008 @ 19:07

cant find recipe for the butter jamie put under the skin of the turkey would love to try it please help

34. by lisa on Wed 10 Dec 2008 @ 18:40

i saw jamie make a mouthwatering roast pork with tinned peaches and fresh
thyme .i cant find the recipe please help

35. by mikey2ooo on Wed 10 Dec 2008 @ 14:31

yes please can you send me the goose recipe. saw the program and forgot it duh!!! ordered the goose and dont know how to cook it apart from cremation !! please send.... thanks .... happy christmas

36. by Eva Rodriguez on Tue 09 Dec 2008 @ 20:26

I´m writing from Spain,Madrid.I saw one of your programs in which you shaw how to arrange to seprate the skin ofthe turkey, to put some fat inside mixed with other ingridients, could you help me ?
Marry Christmas

37. by Pearl Gate on Tue 09 Dec 2008 @ 14:45

On Sunday night, 7th Dec I saw Jamie prepare a really mouth watering goose and roast potaoes but I can't find any of the recipes for that particular night's program online. I would be extremely grateful if you could send me the recipes even if I have to pay a fee for them. Many thanks.

38. by mary Ann on Mon 08 Dec 2008 @ 07:30

lasr night on more4 i saw a christmas stuffing recipe with red onions and sausage meat, I can't find the recipe on line, any ideas?

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