Best Greek Stuffed Turkey

This Savory Stuffed Turkey will enhance your Thanksgiving with a Greek taste that everyone will love.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 4 hr
• Total Time: 4 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 703 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups water
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 lemons, juiced
• ¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 4 medium onions, chopped
• 1 (12 pound) whole turkey, thawed
• 2 turkey livers, finely chopped
• 2 ½ cups long grain white rice

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

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.