Chestnut Stuffed Turkey

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 4

Total Time: 4 20

Servings: 8

Author: Giangi Townsend

Ingredients

2 yellow onion 2 peeled and chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 ounces bacon 6 ounces sliced and cut into strips bacon
8 ounces sausage meat 8 ounces sausage meat
1 breakfast sausage 1 breakfast sausage, casing removed
1 apple 1 peeled, cored and roughly chopped apple
cinnamon mustard pepper ground equal pinch of cinnamon, dry mustard, pepper, ground cloves
24 chestnuts 24 steamed chestnuts
4 pounds turkey 4 pounds cleaned and patted dry turkey
6 bacon 6 thick slices of bacon
⅔ cup cognac ⅔ cup cognac
olive oil olive oil
1 bottle of white wine 1 bottle of white wine
6 garlic cloves 6 garlic cloves, peeled
salt and pepper salt and pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven at 375º F.
In a large skillet heat the butter and add the onions and the bacon strips. Add the sausage meat and the sausage. Continue cooking and separating the pork meats with a spatula.
Add the apple to the meat. Season with salt and pepper. Add the spices and mix well.
Remove from the heat and add the steamed chestnuts and cognac. Work the stuffing lightly to well incorporate the meat and chestnuts, but not mashed them.
Make 2 small incisions on each breast as well as on each thigh and insert the garlic cloves in it Add the remaining garlic in the turkey cavity. Season generously the cavity with salt and pepper.
Stuffed the turkey’s neck with the above stuffing. Close the opening with pins and cooking twine. Place in a large roasting pan over a roast rack. With the twine bring together the legs and tuck under the wings. Slightly oil the turkey with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Cover the turkey’s breast with the thick bacon slices. Cover slight with aluminum foil. Cook approximately 20 minutes per pound.
Poke with a fork once in a while to let the juices run form the breast and tight area.
Baste with white wine and any juices from the bottom of the pan every 20 to 25 minutes
When done, no more juices running out when poking the turkey, remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes or so covered.
Remove the stuffing before slicing the turkey and place in a serving bowl.
Slice the turkey by starting with the breast and moving to the tights. Serve alongside apple slices sautéed with butter and warm steamed chestnuts.

Nutrition

Giangi's Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.