Roast Turkey With Cider Gravy

Instructions

• RESERVE neck from turkey for broth. Pat turkey very dry, inside and out, with paper towels. Combine butter with onion and garlic powders, paprika and 1 tsp salt in a small bowl. Rub butter mixture underneath and over skin of turkey, then bend and tuck wing tips under the back. Transfer turkey to a rack set on a baking sheet. Refrigerate, uncovered, up to 12 hr.

• TURKEY BROTH: Cover reserved neck, chopped onion and bay leaves with 4 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer, uncovered, for 30 min. Strain and save only the liquid. (Discard solids.) Broth should measure 3 cups.

• REMOVE turkey from refrigerator 1 hr before roasting. Place on a rack set in a large roasting pan, then sprinkle turkey with remaining ½ tsp salt and pepper. Position rack in bottom third of oven, then preheat to 400F.

• COVER turkey and pan tightly with foil. Roast for 1 hr. Reduce heat to 300F. Remove foil and pour cider into pan. Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh reads 170F, about 1 hr 40 min more.

• TRANSFER turkey to a carving board and tent loosely with foil. Let stand for 30 min. Skim fat from pan juices in roasting pan.

• PLACE roasting pan over 2 stovetop burners on medium (or pour pan juices into a saucepan). When it comes to a boil, sift in flour while whisking constantly. (Avoid lumpy gravy by sifting flour slowly over the turkey juices while whisking constantly. Don’t sprinkle or pour in the flour.) Gradually whisk in 3 cups prepared turkey broth. Simmer, stirring often, until thickened, 10 to 15 min. Serve with carved turkey.