As the festive season reaches its peak, the annual quest for the perfect Christmas turkey begins anew. This year, seasoned This Morning chef Phil Vickery is offering a lifeline to home cooks, sharing his definitive, tried-and-tested methods for a flawless festive feast.
The Definitive Turkey Method
With over thirty years of culinary experience and having cooked hundreds of turkeys, Phil Vickery believes he has perfected the art. His approach guarantees not only succulent meat but also a rich, homemade gravy as a bonus. "Having cooked literally hundreds over the past thirty years, I think I have come up with the definitive way," says Vickery, who has been a fixture on ITV's This Morning for more than 25 years.
His recipe, designed to serve eight, centres on a 5kg (10-12lb) bronze turkey. The key technique involves creating a steamy environment. After seasoning and stuffing the bird, it is placed on a bed of chunky vegetables in a large tray. White wine, water, and a stock cube are added before the tray is brought to a boil on the stove.
The crucial step is sealing the tray tightly with two layers of foil before transferring it to an oven preheated to 200C (Gas 6). This steam-roasting method cooks the turkey perfectly in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Once cooked through, the bird is removed, the oven is cranked up to 230C (Gas 8), and the turkey is basted with melted butter and returned briefly to achieve an even, golden-brown finish.
Perfect Sides for the Festive Table
No Christmas dinner is complete without the accompaniments, and Vickery provides his expert guidance for these too. For his gluten-free roast potatoes, he advocates blanching peeled potatoes until their edges begin to crumble. They are then drained and roasted in very hot beef dripping, goose, or duck fat, turning them only once to achieve a soft interior with two supremely crunchy sides.
His twenty-minute braised red cabbage offers a quick, flavourful option. Thinly sliced cabbage is stewed with smoked bacon, red onions, and a generous glass of tangerine or satsuma juice, creating buttery, delicious juices perfect for mopping up with bread.
The chef also adds a surprising twist to a classic condiment. His Christmas cranberry & apple sauce incorporates finely chopped Cox's apples and is spiced with cumin seeds and freshly grated nutmeg, creating a complex, tangy-sweet accompaniment that is sure to become a new favourite.
Stress-Free Festive Feasting
Phil Vickery's comprehensive guide, published on 21 December 2025, is designed to take the panic out of Christmas Day cooking. His clear instructions and professional hacks aim to ensure that the cook can enjoy the day as much as the guests. From the initial prep time of 25 minutes for the main event to the clever shortcuts for sides, the focus is on achieving spectacular results without being tied to the kitchen, allowing everyone to relax and celebrate with loved ones.
