Recipe: Herb-Roasted Turkey with French-Style or American-Inspired Side Dishes – Pinot Noir Tradition 2024

Pairings that make the holidays even more special!

• – 1 whole turkey, about 5.5 kg
• – 150 g unsalted or lightly salted butter, softened
• – A few sprigs of thyme and other aromatic herbs
• – Salt, freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

Remove the turkey from the refrigerator while you prepare it. Pat it dry thoroughly, then season the inside and outside.
Gently lift the skin away from the breast meat. Slide some of the softened butter under the skin, along with thyme and other herbs. Spread the remaining butter over the entire bird.
Place the turkey in a large baking dish and put it in the oven. For slow cooking, allow several hours, checking the color regularly and basting with the cooking juices.
Check doneness with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest parts, without touching the bone: the meat must reach at least 74 °C. Let it rest before carving.

COOKING • IMPORTANT NOTE
The original plan was to cook at 120–140 °C for about 4 hours, but this time is not sufficient to ensure a 5.5 kg turkey is fully cooked. For a safer method, use an oven set to at least 160 °C and rely on the meat thermometer rather than the timer.

👉 The perfect pairing: Our 2024 Pinot Noir Tradition

A rich, fruity palate with light, silky tannins!

Recipe for side dishes:

APPROXIMATE QUANTITIES • ADJUST ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF GUESTS

French cuisine

Sautéed green beans
1 kg green beans • 30 g butter • 2 cloves of garlic • herbs

Cook the green beans in boiling salted water for about 15 to 20 minutes, until they reach the desired texture. Drain, then sauté them in butter with the chopped garlic and herbs.

Chestnuts in Salted Butter
1 large can of cooked chestnuts (400 to 500 g drained) • 25 g lightly salted butter

Drain the chestnuts, then gently reheat them in a skillet with the lightly salted butter for about 10 minutes over medium heat, turning them gently.

American-Style Dining

Cajun-Spiced Glazed Carrots
1 kg carrots • 1 tbsp maple syrup • olive oil • Cajun spices

Peel the carrots. Coat them with maple syrup, olive oil, and spices. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast for about 40 minutes at 190 °C, turning them halfway through cooking.

Roasted and Glazed Pumpkin
1 kg pumpkin • olive oil • 1 tbsp maple syrup • spices of your choice

Cut the pumpkin into chunks. Toss them with oil, maple syrup, and spices, then bake for about 35 to 40 minutes at 190 °C, until tender and golden brown.

Homemade Mashed Potatoes
1.5 kg potatoes • 100 g butter • 20–30 cl milk • salt
Boil the potatoes until tender, then peel and mash them. Gradually stir in the butter and hot milk over low heat until you have a creamy mash.