Moist Turkey Crown With Chestnut Truffle Stuffing Food

ROAST TURKEY WITH CHESTNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Mix the chestnut puree with the veal demi-glace. When smooth season with salt and pepper and add the softened butter.
• Place 3 tablespoons clarified butter into a frying pan and add diced onion. Saute lightly. Cut bacon into fine strips and add to the onions. Fry together for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and place into a bowl with the chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper and add the ground pork. Combine ingredients with an egg and mix well.
• Place the onion into some of the clarified butter in a saucepan and allow to fry. Add the chopped turkey neck and brown. Add the water, bay leaves and thyme. Simmer the stock uncovered for 1 hour. After this time add 1/4 cup port and simmer for 5 minutes. To make the gravy, remove fat from baking pan and deglaze with the turkey stock. Serve gravy separately in a sauceboat.
• For the turkey: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Paint grill rack with clarified butter. Place the chestnut dressing in the neck opening, pressing it in firmly. Place the pork dressing in the rear end. Truss the turkey. Lightly flour breast. Place the turkey on its side on a grill rack in a baking dish and bake for l hour. Turn the turkey onto the other side and roast for 1 hour. Turn the bird breast side uppermost and paint with clarified butter and season with salt and white pepper. Roast for a further 2 1/2 hours basting every 30 minutes with clarified butter.
• Recommended drink: Good dry red wine, Claret style

ROAST TURKEY WITH CHESTNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• First make the stuffing. Pour the madeira or wine into a bowl, then crumble in the mushrooms. Fry the onions in the butter for 10 mins, until golden. Cool, then mix with the thyme leaves, the mushrooms and their soaking liquid, and all remaining ingredients, apart from 8 of the chestnuts and the bacon. Season well.
• Set aside half of the stuffing. Line a greased 500g loaf tin with bacon. Pack the rest of the stuffing into the tin, then bring the rashers round over the top and secure in place with cocktail sticks. Use the reserved chestnuts to fill the spaces where the bacon meets. Chill until ready to cook. This will keep in the fridge uncooked for 2 days or can be frozen for up to a month.
• Prepare the turkey. The night before, put the onion quarters, reserved lemon halves and thyme sprigs in the cavity between the legs. Pack the reserved stuffing into the neck end. Secure the neck skin with skewers and tie the legs together. Weigh the turkey. Calculate the cooking time at 40 mins per kilo, plus 20 mins.
• Put a large sheet of extra-wide foil in a large roasting tin and put the turkey on top. Smear the breast with the butter, then grate over half of the nutmeg and season well. Cover with bacon, then pour over the glass of madeira or wine. Seal the foil well to make a parcel. Chill overnight.
• On the day, take the turkey out of the fridge 1 hr before roasting. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put the turkey in the oven; then, 90 mins before the end of cooking, remove foil and bacon, and drain off the juices from the tin to use in the gravy. To test whether the turkey is cooked, push a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - the juices should run clear. If they are pinkish, cook for 15 mins more, then test again.
• Transfer the turkey to a platter, cover with foil, then a couple of tea towels, and allow to rest for at least 30 mins before carving. Meanwhile, cook the stuffing loaf for 30 mins and reheat the bacon. Garnish with watercress and serve the stuffing loaf separately.