Pavo Navideño (Mexican Christmas Turkey)

A roasted turkey is placed on an oval platter, garnished with fresh green herbs and cranberries. The platter rests on a rustic wooden table.

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Pavo Navideño (Mexican Christmas Turkey)

This Pavo Navideño recipe is an easy and foolproof method to cook a whole turkey. The Mexican Christmas Turkey roasts until the skin is crispy and the meat is succulent and juicy. So good, your guests will be asking for seconds!

Prep Time20

Cook Time3 30

Total Time4 20

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: people

Calories: 550kcal

Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

14 lbs Turkey (see below for other sizes)

For Compound Butter:

2 sticks Butter (for compound butter)
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Pepper
½ teaspoon Ground Cumin
½ teaspoon Ground Oregano
½ teaspoon Rosemary finely chopped
½ teaspoon Parsley finely chopped
½ teaspoon Cilantro finely chopped

Also Need:

1 stick Butter (for outside of turkey)
1 Onion cut into quarters
1 whole Garlic cut in half
1 teaspoon Salt to season the skin
½ teaspoon Pepper to season the skin
1 sprig Rosemary
¼ bunch Parsley
¼ bunch Cilantro

Instructions

To Make Compound Butter:

Mix softened butter with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, rosemary, parsley, and cilantro.
Set aside until ready to use.

For the Turkey:

Remove the giblets and neck from inside the turkey.
Rinse the turkey well. Then pat dry the skin with a paper towel.
Lift the skin gently above the turkey breasts and thighs. Do not remove completely.
You're creating a hole to add the compound butter.
Add spoonfuls of compound butter in between the meat and skin.
Stuff the cavity of the turkey with onion, garlic, parsley, rosemary, and cilantro.
Take more softened butter (not compound butter) and smear it all over the outside skin of the turkey.
Season the skin with salt and pepper.
Tuck the wings underneath the turkey. Tie the legs with a cooking string.

How To Cook A Turkey:

Cooking time depends on whether it is stuffed or unstuffed.
Unstuffed Turkey: 13 minutes per pound. Stuffed Turkey: 15 minutes per pound
We're working with a 14 pound turkey. (See below for more cooking times).
For a stuffed turkey cooked at 325 degrees F:
14 to 16 pounds: 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours
The thermometer in the thigh should read 180 degrees F. In the breast, 170 degrees F. In the stuffing, 165 degrees F.
Allow the turkey to rest for 30 minutes before carving.
Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

For a stuffed turkey cooked at 325 degrees F:

4 to 8 pounds: 1 to 2 hours
8 to 10 pounds: 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes
12 to 14 pounds: 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes
14 to 16 pounds: 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours
16 to 18 pounds: 4 hours to 4 hours 30 minutes
18 to 20 pounds: 4 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours
20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 hours

The turkey is done when the thermometer in the thigh reads 180 degrees F. In the breast, 170 degrees F. In the stuffing, 165 degrees F.

How much turkey do you need? I suggest planning for 1 to 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person. That is, if you have 10 people coming, get 10 to 15 pound turkey. This will also ensure that you have plenty of leftovers.

How long does a frozen turkey need to thaw? For every 5 pounds of turkey, a frozen turkey needs about 24 hours thawing time in the fridge. That is, if you have a frozen 10-pound turkey, it needs 2 days of thawing time. A 15-pound turkey needs 3 days. To speed things up, you can place a turkey in cold water (NOT WARM WATER) and change the water every 30 minutes until it is thawed.

Storing Instructions: Store any leftover meat in an airtight container or plastic bag, remove as much air as possible, and place in the fridge for up to 4 days. Or place in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Nutrition