1 ½cupslow-sodium stockfor the roasting pan, add more as needed, can use water instead
Instructions
Prep the chutney butter: Mix butter, cilantro and mint leaves, green chilies, ginger, garlic, cumin powder and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning as you wish. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Fill the cavity: Loosely fill the cavity with orange, lemon, and lime wedges plus the whole/slit chilies. Don’t pack the cavity too tightly; you want space for steam to circulate.
Butter the turkey: Gently separate the skin from the breast meat with your fingers, starting at the neck end, creating a pocket over each breast. Push about half of the chutney butter under the skin, smoothing it over the breasts and as far down the thighs as you can reach. Rub most of the remaining butter all over the outside of the turkey (breast, legs, thighs). Reserve a few tablespoons for basting later.
Cook the turkey: Make sure the turkey has reached room temperature before cooking. Then tent it with foil and cook at 430°F for 30 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 325°F for about 2 ½ hours. Finish uncovered: keep at 325°F, basting every 25–30 minutes until the thickest part of the thigh and breast reach 165°F.
Timing: A 7kg turkey generally needs around 4–4½ hours at 320–340°F, but always rely on internal temperature: 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh and breast.
Notes
Try dry brining the day before cooking - it helps with a crispy skin. Rub salt all over the turkey and inside the cavity (for a 7kg turkey, use 3 tbsp of salt). Rest the turkey uncovered in your fridge for 24 hours before cooking.