Simple roasted turkey with a not so simple tasting gravy.
ingredients
directions
Set rack at lowest position in oven preheated to 450°F.
Place the turkey on rack in large roasting pan. Using pastry brush, brush turkey, inside and out, with 1 stick of melted butter, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Loosely fill body cavity with the onions, garlic, celery, and herbs. Tie legs together loosely with kitchen string and tuck wings under body.
Place turkey in oven and roast until light golden brown, about 40 minutes. Add 2 cups of stock to the pan. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and roast, basting with drippings every 30 minutes, until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170°F.
Carefully tilt turkey so any juices from inside large cavity run into roasting pan, then transfer turkey to a platter, reserving juices in roasting pan. Let turkey stand, uncovered, 30 minutes.
Pour pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into measuring cup then skim off and discard fat. Place the roasting pan on top of 2 burners, then add remaining stock and deglaze roasting pan by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up the brown bits. Pour through sieve into measuring cup containing pan juices.
Melt butter in a 4-quart heavy pot and stir in flour. Cook roux over moderate heat, whisking, 5 minutes. Add stock mixture in a stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, then bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Stir in any turkey juices accumulated on platter and simmer 5 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper.