To make the stuffing, heat a little olive oil in a frying pan. Add the onion & garlic & cook over a low heat for about 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
Remove from the heat & cool.
Blanch the spinach leaves in boiling salted water until just wilted then drain & rinse under cold water.
Squeeze the excess water from the spinach.
Chop coarsely.
Combine the cooled onion with the spinach, ricotta, herbs, raisins & butter.
Add the eggs & seasoning & mix through well.
To prepare the turkey, press the stuffing under the skin of the turkey & into the breasts & legs, until it is firmly packed in.
Rub the skin with plenty of extra virgin olive oil & season the turkey inside & out.
Place the turkey in a large baking tray & roast for ½ hour on 200C.
Cook a further hour on 150C then drop the temperature again to 50C, cover the turkey with foil & allow to rest in the oven for about 20 minutes.
ToServe
Remove the legs & thighs & the wings at the second joint.
Remove the breasts & slice each into 1-2cm thick slices, being careful not to rip the skin.
Serve on a large platter with lemon wedges.
A turkey this size will easily feed 20, with leftovers.
I have made this turkey ever since I saw it on a Neil Perry Christmas special. maybe 8 years ago. It is absolutely fantastic. try it you wont believe how beautiful it is.
Neil, after being picked for the Christmas turkey this year i sampled this recipe using a size 32 turkey and cooking the turkey in my outside spit. Cooking for approx 3 hours at between 120-150c it turned out fantastic and everyone loved it. I will using this recipe for sure with a size 70.
I swapped the raisins for cranberries and made it into tartlets, using rozen pastry for a Cancer morning lunch, got a lot of compliments and requests for the recipe. Still using the recipe. Thanks Neil for the idea. Carollyn
Neil, this was a sensation on Christmas day. I cooked a size 52 and I have to say the recommended timings are out. It took an additional 60 minutes on top of the 1.5 hours plus 20 min resting. It was so great though that it didn't upset the 8 people we had for Chrissy lunch.
I followed this recipe last year including the cooking times and it was fantastic. Am doing it again tonight for an early family Xmas dinner and just need to watch the video again. Thanks Neil. Highly recommend.
I read this recipe in the Good Weekend and it stated that 4.5 hours cooking time was needed
here it states far far less BIG MISTAKE however it sounds beautiful so will definitely try it..
I read this recipe in the Good Weekend and it stated the turkey needed 4.5 hours cooking time but here it states far far less BIG MISTAKE however the recipe sounds great will definitely try it..
Lee December 2011
does it really cook in only 1.5 hours plus resting? I heard that you need 1/2 hr per 500g? Anyone made this with a 4 kg turkey and if so how long did it take?
I made this for my family Christmas 2009. It's was amazing. Best Christmas day turkey and quick and easy to cook. Video was excellent to watch. Nice one Neil! :)
I made this for family for Christmas 2009. it's was amazing. Best Christmas day turkey and quick and easy to cook. Video was excellent to watch. Nice one Neil! :)
I've made Neils Roast Turkey with Ricotta 2 years in a row and it 's been a major success each time. Best favoured Turkey and will never use anything else.
I have made this turkey ever since I saw it on a Neil Perry Christmas special. maybe 8 years ago. It is absolutely fantastic. try it you wont believe how beautiful it is.
Neil, after being picked for the Christmas turkey this year i sampled this recipe using a size 32 turkey and cooking the turkey in my outside spit. Cooking for approx 3 hours at between 120-150c it turned out fantastic and everyone loved it. I will using this recipe for sure with a size 70.
I swapped the raisins for cranberries and made it into tartlets, using rozen pastry for a Cancer morning lunch, got a lot of compliments and requests for the recipe. Still using the recipe. Thanks Neil for the idea. Carollyn
Neil, this was a sensation on Christmas day. I cooked a size 52 and I have to say the recommended timings are out. It took an additional 60 minutes on top of the 1.5 hours plus 20 min resting. It was so great though that it didn't upset the 8 people we had for Chrissy lunch.
I followed this recipe last year including the cooking times and it was fantastic. Am doing it again tonight for an early family Xmas dinner and just need to watch the video again. Thanks Neil. Highly recommend.
I read this recipe in the Good Weekend and it stated that 4.5 hours cooking time was needed here it states far far less BIG MISTAKE however it sounds beautiful so will definitely try it..
I read this recipe in the Good Weekend and it stated the turkey needed 4.5 hours cooking time but here it states far far less BIG MISTAKE however the recipe sounds great will definitely try it.. Lee December 2011
does it really cook in only 1.5 hours plus resting? I heard that you need 1/2 hr per 500g? Anyone made this with a 4 kg turkey and if so how long did it take?
Perfect for lactose and wheat intolerants like myself!
I made this for my family Christmas 2009. It's was amazing. Best Christmas day turkey and quick and easy to cook. Video was excellent to watch. Nice one Neil! :)
I made this for family for Christmas 2009. it's was amazing. Best Christmas day turkey and quick and easy to cook. Video was excellent to watch. Nice one Neil! :)
Is it ok to make it the day before?
I will defenitly make this dish 2morrow nite :) love ur recipes
I love this recipe as does the entire family. Will be doing it again this year and looking forward to it.
I've made Neils Roast Turkey with Ricotta 2 years in a row and it 's been a major success each time. Best favoured Turkey and will never use anything else.
I made this last christmas and my family have asked for it again, we also added some pinenuts to it, it is very moist and yummy.
Tried this for xmas , very easy and turkey was very moist, will never use traditional stuffing again.
Fantastic, changed to cranberry macadamia and sage, worked as well! Never use bread crumbs again!
Did this turkey last year and am doing again this year, it moist and delicious and fun to make.
Fantastic, saw Neil making this dish and tried it pre-christmas, and it is wonderful and best of all, easy to make.