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Best Greek Stuffed Turkey

Description

A Greek-inspired holiday turkey stuffed and trussed with Greek spices and lamb.

Ingredients

  • 1
     
    (12-pound) whole turkey, thawed
  • 3
     
    lemons, juiced
  • 1⁄2
    c
    butter
  • 4
     
    medium onions, chopped
  • 2
     
    turkey livers, finely chopped
  • 1
    lb
    ground lamb
  • 2 1⁄2
    c
    white rice, long grain
  • 1
    T
    cinnamon, ground
  • 1⁄4
    c
    fresh mint leaves, chopped
  • 2
    T
    tomato paste
  • 3
    c
    water
  •  
     
    salt and pepper to taste
  • 1⁄2
    c
    butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Rinse the turkey inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Rub lemon juice all over the turkey and inside the cavity. Set aside.

Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook for about 5 minutes, until tender. Add the chopped livers and ground lamb. Cook, stirring to crumble, until evenly browned. Stir in the rice, cinnamon, mint and tomato paste. Mix in 1 cup of the water, and season with salt and pepper. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.

Fill turkey with the stuffing mixture, and truss. Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, and pour the remaining 2 cups of water into the pan. Mix together the remaining lemon juice and melted butter. This is the basting sauce.

Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature of the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue roasting for 2 more hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F (80 degrees C). Baste occasionally with the melted butter and lemon juice.

Summary

Yield
Source

AllRecipe

Prep time45 minutes
Holiday RecipesMain Dish Recipes