Impressive main courses

Roast turkey & gravy

■ Serves 8-10 ■ Prep 30 mins plus 12 hrs brining and resting ■ Cook 2 hrs 5 mins

5-6kg oven-ready turkey with the neck, chopped, and giblets include
2 tbsp sea salt
150g butter
3 garlic cloves, finely grated
large handful of parsley and thyme, leaves picked and chopped, stalks reserved, plus extra to serve (optional)
2 lemons, both halved, 1 juiced
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 carrots, roughly chopped
rosemary sprigs and bay leaves

FOR THE GRAVY

2 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp yeast extract
large glass of red wine (about 200ml)
500ml chicken or turkey stock

1 Up to 48 hrs and at least 12 hrs before cooking, loosen the turkey breast skin so you can get your hands under it. Season all over, including under the skin, with the sea salt. Put breast-side up in a large flameproof roasting tin. Leave uncovered in the fridge.

2 Remove from the fridge at least 1 hr before cooking. Heat the oven to 240C/220C fan/ gas 9. Melt the butter in a pan over a low heat, then add the garlic, chopped herbs and lemon juice. Sizzle for 1 min, then set aside to cool a little. Remove the turkey from the tin and scatter in the onion, carrots, turkey neck and giblets. Put a roasting rack over the tray and sit the turkey on top. Stuff the squeezed and unsqueezed lemons into the turkey cavity with the herb stalks, rosemary sprigs and bay. Lift the skin and spoon 4 tbsp garlicky herb butter underneath, then massage to spread out. Brush most of the remaining butter over the bird, reserving about 2 tbsp. Tie the wings and legs together.

3 Put the turkey in the oven and reduce the heat to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Roast for 1 hr, remove and brush with more herb butter. Turn the tin and roast for a further 30 mins. Brush with the butter and roast for another 30 mins. Check the temperature; it’s cooked perfectly when the thickest part of the breast reads about 65C and the thickest part of the thigh is 75C. If not, return to the oven for 15 mins, or until it is the correct temperature. Cool for 10 mins on the rack, then transfer to a board upside down. Rest for at least 20 mins; it will stay hot for at least 40 mins.

Meanwhile, make the gravy. Put the tin over a