0.5 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese shredded finely
4 pears divided halved
12 pound turkey fresh thawed at room temperature
0.3 cup walnut oil divided toasted
0.5 cup walnuts toasted chopped
Equipment
bowl
frying pan
baking sheet
sauce pan
oven
whisk
sieve
blender
roasting pan
kitchen thermometer
ziploc bags
kitchen twine
Directions
Preheat oven to 50
Remove giblets and neck from turkey; discard. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.
Combine 1 tablespoon oil, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and cheese in a small bowl. Rub cheese mixture under loosened skin over flesh.
Place 1 pear and 1 onion in cavity. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey. Tie legs together with kitchen twine.
Place turkey on the rack of a roasting pan coated with cooking spray. Arrange remaining 3 pears and remaining onion, cut sides down, in a roasting pan coated with cooking spray; place rack with turkey in pan.
Bake at 500 for 30 minutes.
Pour 1 1/2 cups stock over turkey; reduce heat to 35
Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
Pour 1 1/2 cups stock over turkey; bake for 10 minutes.
Brush remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons walnut oil over turkey; bake 10 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 16
Remove from oven.
Place turkey, breast side down, on a rimmed baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
Let stand 30 minutes.
Strain pan drippings through a sieve into a bowl; discard solids.
Place a zip-top plastic bag inside a 2-cup glass measure.
Pour pan drippings into bag.
Let stand 10 minutes (fat will rise to the top).
Seal bag; carefully snip off 1 bottom corner of bag.
Drain drippings into a saucepan, stopping before fat layer reaches opening; discard fat.
Combine remaining 1 1/2 cups stock and flour in a bowl, stirring with a whisk.
Add stock mixture and walnuts to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until mixture thickens.
Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
Pour mixture into a blender.
Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure lid on blender.
Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Process until smooth.