Roast Turkey with Pistachio Stuffing and Cranberry Gravy
Give your Christmas table the WOW factor with this nutritious yet decadent roast turkey, thatย serves 6.
PLUS it’s also a recipe for Christmas in ourย 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge. You don’t need to miss out on anythingย when you are following our plans.
Let the fresh flavours shine through thanks to the good quality fresh ingredients that complement the meat so well.
If you are following the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge you can enjoy this recipe as part of your healthy eating plan.
Servings |
people
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- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 chopped brown onion
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp unsalted pistachios roughly chopped
- 2 gloves crushed garlic
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 cup couscous uncooked
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 1 free-range egg lightly whisked
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper
- 1 x 3.5kg whole turkey size 35
- 1 lemon
- 2 sprigs rosemary leaves
- cooking oil spray
- 1 1/2 tbsp plain wholemeal flour
- 1 1/2 cups liquid chicken stock salt reduced
- 2 1/2 tbsp cranberry sauce store-bought
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 200C. Rinse the turkey cavity under cold running water. Pat dry with paper towel inside and out.
- Cut lemon into wedges and place in cavity with rosemary. Tuck wings under turkey and tie legs together with kitchen string.
- Place the turkey on a rack in a deep roasting pan, rub with 1 tsp of the extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Pour 2 cups of water into the bottom of the pan.
- Cover turkey with foil and roast for 30 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 180C and roast for a further 30 minutes.
- Remove foil from turkey and roast for 45 โ 60 minutes more until skin is golden and juices run clear when a skewer is inserted into the thigh. Re-cover if browning too quickly.
- Remove from oven and rest for 20 minutes in the pan before moving to a serving platter. Reserve the roasting pan juices to make the gravy.
- While the turkey is roasting heat another 1 tsp of the extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Stir through pistachios and 1/4 cup of the dried cranberries. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Place 1 cup of the couscous into a large bowl. Heat 1/2 cup of the orange juice until warmed through, combine with 1/2 cup of the boiling water and pour over couscous. Stir and cover for 5 minutes to absorb.
- Fluff couscous with a fork and combine with the onion mixture, egg, orange zest and 3/4 cup of the parsley. Season with salt and pepper, spoon into a baking dish sprayed with cooking oil spray and cover with a lid or foil.
- Place roasting pan with reserved juices over medium heat on the stove (you can transfer juices to a saucepan if you prefer). Add the flour to the pan and whisk well to combine. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the mixture starts to bubble.
- Gradually whisk in the stock followed by the cranberry sauce and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes until thickened. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
- Carve the turkey, dividing into 100g portions of meat per person. Serve turkey with stuffing, gravy and couscous salad.
- Store extra turkey, covered, in the fridge for 3 days or wrap well and freeze for up to 3 months.
- If your turkey is frozen, ensure it has fully thawed before cooking. A 3.5 kg turkey will take approximately 2-3 days to thaw in the fridge.
- Check the cavity of the turkey before cooking, some turkeys have the neck inside.
Serves 6 at approximately 490 calories per serve
For more entertaining ideas, check out the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge!
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