Recipe
Apricot-Soy Glazed Turkey
Serves
6-8
Total Time
2 hours 57 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours 37 minutes
About
If you love the comfort of a classic roast turkey but crave bolder flavor, this Apricot-Soy Glazed Turkey belongs on your holiday menu. We start with a foundation of sage-and-garlic herb butter tucked directly under the skin to keep the breast tender and juicy. Then, in the final minutes of roasting, the bird is lacquered with a vibrant glaze made from sweet apricot preserves, umami-rich soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and fresh lemon zest.
The result is a glossy, golden-mahogany roast with a sticky, savory crust that stands out on any holiday table. Sized perfectly for an intimate gathering of 6 to 8, it cooks in under three hours with zero guesswork.
Ingredients
- For Turkey
- 10-12 pound whole turkey, thawed
- 1 cup water
- 1 lemon, halved
- ½ bulb of garlic
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried sage
- For Apricot Soy Glaze
- ⅔ cup apricot preserves
- ⅓ cup Kikkoman® Less Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
Directions
-
Move oven rack to lower position. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Remove turkey from packaging and set out at room temperature. Remove giblets from turkey cavity. Pat turkey dry with paper towel. Pour 1 cup of water in roasting pan. Place turkey on roasting pan breast side up. Place lemon halves, garlic bulb and rosemary in cavity of turkey. Stir together butter, salt, pepper and sage. Rub butter mixture under breast skin and on top of the entire turkey. Truss together legs with kitchen twine and tuck wings behind turkey.
-
Roast for 30 minutes, then tent turkey loosely with aluminum foil and reduce heat to 325ºF. Continue to roast for 2 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165ºF (175ºF in thigh).
-
While turkey roasts, heat ingredients for glaze in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Once glaze begins to steam, reduce heat to low. Simmer for 4-5 minutes to reduce glaze. Transfer to a small bowl and cool to room temperature.
- Remove turkey from oven and discard foil. Brush turkey liberally with glaze all over skin. Return to oven for 5-7 minutes. Remove turkey from oven and brush again with glaze. Rest turkey at room temperature 20 minutes before carving.
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