Lemon-&-Fennel-Rubbed Turkey with Homemade Giblet Gravy

To prepare rub: Mash garlic and salt together on a cutting board to form a paste. Transfer to a medium bowl and mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, oil, 3 tablespoons fresh thyme (or 2 tablespoons dried), fennel, pepper and sugar.

To dry-brine turkey: Reserve giblets and neck for making giblet stock for gravy. Thoroughly pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels. Place on a platter and loosen the skin of the breast and legs. Spread about one-third of the rub mixture under the skin, one-third on the outside and the remaining third inside the cavity. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 24 hours.

To prepare stock for gravy: Place giblets and neck, carrot, onion, celery, thyme, garlic, bay leaf and parsley (or celery leaves) in a large saucepan. Add 4 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 1 hour. Pour the stock through a fine sieve into a 2-cup glass measure. (Discard solids.) You should have 1 3/4 to 2 cups stock.

To roast turkey: Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 425 degrees F.

Transfer the turkey to a roasting rack set in a roasting pan. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Place onion, lemon and thyme sprigs in the cavity. Tuck the wings under the body and tie the legs together.

Roast the turkey until the skin starts to brown in spots, 20 to 30 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and roast for 1 hour more.

Turn the roasting pan 180 degrees and tent the breast with foil. Continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh without touching bone registers 165 degrees F, 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours more.

Carefully tilt the turkey so the juices from the cavity flow into the pan. Transfer the turkey to a clean cutting board and tent with foil. Let rest 20 minutes before carving.

To prepare the gravy: Scrape the drippings and browned bits from the roasting pan into a large saucepan and add the stock. Bring to a boil.

Whisk cornstarch and the remaining 3 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Add to the stock mixture, whisking constantly; cook, whisking, for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Pour the gravy through a fine-mesh sieve. Season with pepper.