Latin style roasted turkey {Pavo a lo criollo} for Christmas or Thanksgiving

Step 1

Rinse the turkey with cold water and pat dry.

Step 2

Tuck the wings underneath the turkey and tie the drumsticks together using cooking twine.

Step 3

To prepare the marinade, mix the crushed garlic, cumin, achiote and salt.

Step 4

Rub the turkey with the marinade, both inside and out.

Step 5

Pour the chicha or beer over the turkey, some of the garlic marinade will fall off the skin, so rub it back on the skin.

Step 6

Let the turkey marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

Step 7

Pre-heat the oven to 425F.

Step 8

Put the turkey in a large baking pan on a roasting rack.

Step 9

Mix the butter, achiote and salt until you have a smooth mix.

Step 10

Rub the achiote butter inside turkey cavities and use your hand to gently lift the skin of the turkey, and then stuff it with the butter. Also rub some butter on the exterior skin of the turkey.

Step 11

Fill the inside of the turkey with the stuffing, if desired. Stuffing can also be baked separately.

Step 12

Bake the turkey at 425F for 30 minutes; use a ladle to spoon the liquid over the turkey.

Step 13

Lower the temperature to 375F and bake for another 1 ½ hours, to help keep the turkey moist pour a ladleful of the pan sauces over the turkey about every 30 minutes.

Step 14

Lower the temperature to 350F, cover the turkey with foil and bake for another 1 - 1 ½ hrs or until the internal temperature of the turkey, in the thigh, is 165F. If baking stuffing inside the turkey the temperature of the stuffing should also be 165F. If the turkey is stuffed it will take longer to be done than if the turkey is unstuffed.

Step 15

Serve the turkey with the holiday stuffing, salsa de ciruelas or prune sauce, and your choice of side dishes.