Roast Peruvian Turkey
A garlicky, spicy rub bakes right onto the turkey to lock in juices for a flavorful Peruvian-style holiday centerpiece for the big meal.
By Nadia Kovalenko
Posted October 10, 2026Share
Time
Calories
Servings
Difficulty
Description
A garlicky, spicy rub bakes right onto the turkey to lock in juices for a flavorful Peruvian-style holiday centerpiece for the big meal.
Quick Tip Read the recipe in its entirety before you start cooking. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand.
Ingredients 20
1 (12 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed
0.5 cup ground cumin
0.5 cup soy sauce
0.5 cup white vinegar
0.33333334326744 cup vegetable oil
12 cloves garlic, peeled
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or as needed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons water, or as needed
1 (8 ounce) container creme fraiche
1 cup chicken broth
1 lime, juiced
2 jalapeno peppers, stemmed
0.5 cup chopped fresh cilantro
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
Instructions
-
1
Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Use a spatula under the skin to loosen it on both sides of the breastbone.
-
2
Place cumin, soy sauce, vinegar, vegetable oil, garlic, paprika, black pepper, smoked paprika, and oregano into a blender. Blend the spice rub for about 1 minute until it makes a thick paste. Set aside 1/2 cup of rub in a bowl for a later step; pour remaining rub all over turkey and use a spatula to work about 2 tablespoons of mixture beneath the loosened skin on each side of the breast. Rub the mixture into every nook and cranny of the turkey. Let turkey stand for 1 hour at room temperature.
-
3
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Fold a piece of aluminum foil into a rounded piece about the size of the turkey breast; set foil aside.
-
4
Set the turkey onto a rack inside a large roasting pan. Tie legs together at the bottom with a piece of kitchen twine. Spread 1/4 cup of the reserved wet rub inside the turkey cavity, and keep the other 1/4 cup for later. Sprinkle entire top and sides of turkey with kosher salt.
-
5
Roast the turkey in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours, then tent foil over the turkey breast. Return to oven and continue to roast for about 1 hour and 15 more minutes. Mix the remaining 1/4 cup of spice rub with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and water in a small bowl. Brush mixture over turkey's top, legs, and sides. Roast for about 30 more minutes, until an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone reads 170 to 175 degrees F (75 to 80 degrees C). Transfer turkey to a serving platter and let rest for at least 20 minutes, reserving drippings in roasting pan.
-
6
Put the creme fraiche, chicken broth, lime juice, jalapeno peppers, and cilantro into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour excess grease out of turkey roasting pan, pour in creme fraiche mixture, and place the roasting pan over a burner set over medium-high heat. Scrape the browned pan drippings into the sauce mixture, bring to a boil, and let it cook down until the gravy is reduced by half and thickened, about 10 minutes. Whisk often to prevent lumps. Season the gravy with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Carve and serve turkey with pan gravy.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 12
Amount Per Serving
-
Calories 841 kcal
% Daily Value *
-
Total Fat 47g
-
Saturated Fat 15g
-
Cholesterol 292mg
-
Sodium 1267mg
-
Total Carbohydrate 7g
-
Dietary Fiber 2g
-
Protein 94g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Popular Recipes
You Might Also Like
Cottage Cheese Salad
This salad is cold and light. It mixes cottage cheese with crisp vegetables. You can...
Instant Pot Vegetable Broth
This Instant Pot vegetable broth from scratch is made with carrots, onion, celery, garlic, and...
Six-Egg Pound Cake
This cake is made with basic ingredients and is quite tall.
Kalbi Marinade
This sauce uses ginger, garlic, and sesame. It gives food a savory taste.
Ready to cook?
Sign up for our tasty newsletter and be the first one who tries out our latest
recipes.
