Bronze turkey crown and legs with gravy and stuffing

Name: A recipe for bronze turkey crown and legs with gravy and stuffing
Ingredients: Bronze turkey with giblets (5.5-6.5kg in weight); 50g butter; 2tbsp finely chopped fresh sage, thyme or rosemary leaves (or a mixture of all 3); 2 large oranges, grated zest; 1 lemon, grated zest; 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed; ½tsp brown sugar; 3tbsp olive oil; 100g butter; 1 medium onion, peeledand finely chopped; 2tsp finely choppedfresh sage; 1 orange, grated zest; 240g fresh breadcrumbs; 100g vacuum-packed chestnuts, roughly chopped; 1 large egg; Splash of cream or milk (if needed); 1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped; 3 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped; 3 sticks celery, roughly chopped; 2 outer leaves fennel, roughly chopped; Few sprigs sage, rosemary or thyme (or all 3); 50g butter, cubed; 1 dessertspoon plain flour; 1 large glass red wine; 2 oranges, juice; 500ml good chicken stock; 2 bunches watercress, washed and spun, with thick stalks removed

Chef Sally Clarke, the founder of Clarke’s Restaurant in London, W8, shares the ultimate Christmas turkey recipe, with a delicious chestnut stuffing and all the trimmings

By Sally Clarke

24 December 2021

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Nassima Rothacker

The turkey crown is dry-brined and the legs are boned and filled with a chestnut, sage and orange stuffing – then roasted. Ideally, you should start to prepare the turkey two days before roasting.

To drink

A medium to light-bodied red is the traditional accompaniment to roast turkey. My choices include a classic Bordeaux blend, such as Château Poujeaux 2014, or a Burgundian Pinot Noir like Bouchard’s Beaune du Château Rouge 2012 (£28 and £32.99; waitrosecellar.com). Both wines have enough acidity to balance the richness of the dish, while offering complementary autumnal aromas and flavours. However, a crisp, fruity and lightly oaked white, such as Louis Latour’s Mâcon-Lugny Les Genièvres 2018 or Pask’s ‘Declaration’ Chardonnay 2016 from New Zealand (£13.90 and £19.70 respectively; tanners-wines.co.uk), would also harmonise beautifully.

To drink

Recipe notes