Champagne-Basted Turkey Recipe

Champagne-Basted Turkey Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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I've made this turkey every Thanksgiving for the past 15 years. We all love it. The secret is to use lots of fresh parsley on top and inside and to keep basting. That creates a tender, delightful turkey. —Sharon Hawk, Edwardsville, Illinois

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Champagne-Basted Turkey Recipe

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 3-1/2 hours + standing

Yield: 16 Servings

20 210 230

Ingredients

1 turkey (14 to 16 pounds)
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon celery salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper
Fresh sage and parsley sprigs, optional
2 cups Champagne or other sparkling wine
2 medium onions, chopped
1-1/2 cups minced fresh parsley
1 cup condensed beef consomme, undiluted
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
GRAVY:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Directions

Pat turkey dry. Combine the butter, salt, celery salt and pepper; rub over the outside and inside of turkey. Place sage and parsley sprigs in cavity if desired. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Place breast side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the Champagne, onions, parsley, consomme, thyme and marjoram; pour into pan. Bake for 3 to 3-1/2 hours longer or until a meat thermometer reads 180°, basting occasionally with Champagne mixture. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes before slicing.
For gravy, strain drippings into a small bowl. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add drippings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with turkey. Yield: 14 servings (1-2/3 cups gravy).

Nutritional Facts 8 ounces cooked turkey with 5 teaspoons gravy equals 518 calories, 25 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 224 mg cholesterol, 522 mg sodium, 3 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 64 g protein.

Originally published as Champagne-Basted Turkey in Taste of Home October/November 2010, p83