Unless you are a vegetarian or vegan, a Thanksgiving spread without a delicious roast turkey as the centrepiece is unimaginable. Why turkey is the protein of choice for a Thanksgiving meal is a matter shrouded in mystery. Although the bird has no connection with the original story of the Native Americans and the colonists, it’s assumed that people ate it for practical reasons. The turkey is a humongous bird, big enough to feed an entire family for the feast. It also happens to be an all-American avian species, native to the region. And Thanksgiving is an American festival. That’s why it makes perfect sense to serve turkey instead of chicken or pork. Whatever the reason, everyone can agree on the fact that turkey is scrumptious. Thanksgiving 2018: Know Date, History & Significance Behind the Most Awaited Holiday in U.S.

Traditionally, the bird is stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs, carrots, celery and seasonings and slow roasted for close to six hours. An ideal roast turkey will have crispy skin with juicy flesh. Here are easy roast turkey recipes if you feel brave enough to cook one up this Thanksgiving.

Basic Turkey Recipe From Gordon Ramsay

When it comes to the basics, it’s better to learn it from the best. Gordon Ramsay’s video on ‘How to Cook The Perfect Roast Turkey’ is perfect for first timers who are struggling with the big bird.

Garlic Butter Roast Turkey

This scrumptious turkey is made by stuffing a mixture of garlic and butter between the skin and flesh of the bird. The result is a crispy, buttery skin. Turkey Challenge Goes Viral Freaking Parents out!

Korean Glazed Turkey

Not a traditional all-American recipe, this roast turkey is just as delicious. The recipe uses Korean ingredients with a glazed sugar crust.

Victorian-Style Turkey From England

Here’s a traditional English-style recipe from the Victorian times. This one involves covering the roast turkey with a layer of mayonnaise.

Moroccon Style Turkey

This is a roast turkey with a difference because it involves the heavy use of Moroccon spices for an exotic twist.

Tandoori Turkey

This scrumptious dish uses the tradition Indian tandoori recipe that combines yoghurt and spices.

But for any recipe to succeed, you should choose the right turkey for the feast. For maximum flavour and texture, experts recommend choosing fresh instead of frozen turkey. The size of the turkey matters too. According to the Martha Stewart website, a good rule of thumb is 1 to 2 pounds of turkey per person.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 04:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).