Advertisement

Roasted Wild Turkey

Time 2 hours
Yields Serves 6 to 8
Roasted Wild Turkey
Share
Print RecipePrint Recipe

Dear SOS: In November 1998 you printed a letter requesting the turkey and cornbread dressing served at the Windows on the World Restaurant at the World Trade Center in New York. I’ve used these recipes, and family and friends have requested them again this year. I thought reprinting the recipes might be an appropriate tribute.

Judy Garrett

Cambria

Dear Judy: Windows on the World chef Michael Lomonaco, who survived the attack, provided both the turkey and stuffing recipes. He recommended cooking the stuffing separately. The recipe calls for a farm-raised wild turkey found at some markets, but a good supermarket turkey works well too. Ancho chile powder is available at most Latino grocery stores and many supermarkets.

If you have an oven large enough for the turkey and casserole dish of stuffing, add the stuffing to the oven about one hour after the turkey goes in. Both should be ready about the same time. If your oven will accommodate only a turkey, cook the stuffing first, then reheat the stuffing 15 to 20 minutes in a 350-degree oven while the meat rests and the gravy is made.

Advertisement
1

Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

2

Season the turkey inside and out with salt and pepper to taste. Place the bay leaves, garlic and onion inside the cavity. Set the turkey, breast side down, on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour water into the pan and roast 30 minutes.

3

Turn the turkey breast side up, brush with the melted butter, reduce the heat to 350 degrees and roast until the juices run clear when the thigh joint is pierced with a fork and when a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees, 1 to 1 1/2 hours, adding more water to the pan as needed.

4

Remove the turkey from the oven and allow to stand 20 minutes before carving. Serve with Corn Bread Stuffing.