Herb-Stuffed Turkey Thighs with White Wine Sauce (Tacchino Ripieno Con Salsa Al Vino Bianco)

2 skin-on turkey thigh (about 1 lb. each)

1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 carrot, cut into 2-inch pieces

1 medium yellow onion, cut lengthwise into eighths

1 extra virgin olive oil

2 T. cloves garlic

2 finely chopped sage, plus 3 whole leaves

2 tsp. finely chopped rosemary, plus 1 sprig

1 T. finely chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus 2 sprigs

2 T. freshly ground black pepper

kosher salt

1⁄2 C. dry white wine

 

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F (220°C).

Lightly season the turkey thighs all over with salt and pepper. In a large mortar, lb. the chopped parsley, chopped rosemary, and chopped sage until crushed. Add the garlic and 1/2 T. salt, and lb. until a paste begins to form. Mix in the olive oil. Rub half of the herb mixture over the flesh of one of the turkey thighs. Repeat with the other thigh. Roll each thigh roughly into a cylindrical shape and tie it with two to four loops of twine to secure. Add the onion, carrot, celery, parsley sprigs, rosemary sprig, sage leaves, white wine and 1/2 C. of water to a 9 x 13-inch roasting pan. Add the turkey thighs to the pan, cover loosely with foil, and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, baste the turkey thighs with the pan juices, and continue cooking until the thighs register 165°F (74°C) on a meat thermometer, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove the thighs from the pan and set aside on a carving board, tenting loosely with foil. Heat the broiler to high and return the vegetables to the oven. Broil until the vegetables are nicely browned and remove. Transfer the veggies to a platter with a slotted spoon. Strain the juices through a fine-mesh sieve into a serving bowl. Remove the kitchen string from the turkey thighs and carve into slices. Transfer to the platter with the veggies and drizzle with some of the pan juices. Serve the remaining sauce on the side.