Roast turkey drumstick with herbs and mandarin
If you’re looking for a meal for two (or one) at Christmas or Thanksgiving, and like turkey – a baked drumstick is ideal. This Roast turkey drumstick with herbs and mandarin is aromatic, zesty and delicious – if you want it festive, add a small spoonful of mixed spice to the herbs and/or put a stick of cinnamon in the baking tray. Serve the dish with roasted veggies or a mash and a salad.
Ingredients
Method
- Set the oven temperature to 190°C.
- Cut the mandarins in half, the onions into wedges and the carrots into large chunks. Lightly squash the garlic cloves.
- Put the turkey in a large baking tray. Scatter the carrots, garlic and onion pieces around it.
- Loosen the skin of the turkey.
- Mix the thyme, rosemary leaves, oregano and spices (if used) with the olive oil or butter and rub most of this this into the meat (under and over the skin). Add the remaining mixture to the vegetables. Put the bay leaves under the skin together with a mandarin piece.
- Squeeze the juice of the remaining mandarin over the turkey and veggies, drizzle with the honey or maple syrup – then bake for 15-20 minutes, until the skin is golden and crispy.
- Take the dish out and cover with foil. Turn the oven temperature down to 160°C and bake the turkey gently for about 60-80 minutes until the meat is tender.
- Insert a skewer into the thickest part of the meat – if the juices run clear, not pink, it is fully cooked through. Take the dish out of the oven, and rest for 10 minutes.
- Serve it with the veggies and cooking jus (or make it into a thicker gravy, if preferred).