COOKING WITH / TURKEY
We are now into the week of preparation and ensuring everything is ready for the festive weekend. A Large part for most, is serving up a big, hearty delicious meal for loved ones. Whether there are 2 or 20 of you, Turkey is a staple centre piece in many households.
Once considered a luxury, I still believe it should be treated this way; time and care must be taken to ensure plates are clean + your guests are happy. I have created a recipe to give it the love it deserves; forget a dry, slightly disappointing bird and welcome some extra flavours + techniques. Below you'll find a recipe for Sausage + Chestnut Stuffed Free Range Turkey Breast, Organic Parsnip Puree & Pickled Cranberries - Enjoy!
We wish you all a Merry Christmas + a very happy New Year.
Dorian
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
STUFFING + TURKEY
2kg Boneless, Skinless Turkey Breast
300g Sausage Meat
1 Onion
4 Garlic Cloves
100g Cooked, Peeled Chestnuts, Finely Chopped
1 Bunch Fresh Sage, chopped
2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
100g Pitted Prunes, diced
PARSNIP PUREE
8 Parsnips, sliced
200ml of Cream
100ml of Water
Salt to taste
PICKLED CRANBERRIES
250ml Red Wine Vinegar
500g Soft Dark Brown Sugar
250g Fresh Cranberries
1 Cinnamon Stick
1 Star Anise
3 Cloves
1 Bay Leaf
1 Red Chilli, split down the middle
1 Clementine, zested
TO GARNISH
50g Peeled and Cooked Chestnuts
½ Bunch Sage
METHOD
STUFFING + TURKEY
For the stuffing, finely chop the onion and garlic gloves - fry with 50g of butter until translucent. Ensuring the onion and garlic is cool, combine together all the ingredients (except the turkey).
Trim any bits of fat or membrane from the turkey and with a sharp knife and open out the turkey breast as if you are butterflying it. Place the turkey between two pieces of cling film and flatten out with a rolling pin.
Get two large pieces of aluminium foil and lay the turkey breast on top. Season with salt and pepper. spread the stuffing mix in an even layer onto the turkey breast and then use the foil to help you roll it up lengthways.
Completely encase the turkey in the two layers of foil and secure with cook's string at regular intervals along the length of the roll. Place in the fridge until required for cooking.
To cook, preheat the oven to 120C/250F/Gas ½.
Add 400ml/14fl oz boiling water to a deep roasting tin. Place a wire rack in the tin and place the rolled turkey breast on top. Cover the roasting tin with aluminium foil.
Roast in the oven for 1½-2 hours, then check the core temperature with a meat thermometer. You are looking for a temperature of 70C/160F. If it is not ready, place back into the oven and continue to cook until it reaches the correct temperature.
Once cooked, remove from the oven, cover with aluminium foil and rest for 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove the string and foil.
(See below for serving + garnish).
METHOD
PARSNIP PUREE
Put the sliced parsnips, cream and water into a pan, cover with a lid and cook until the parsnips are soft.
Strain, reserve the cream and add the parsnips to a blender.
Add a splash of the reserved cream to the parsnips and blitz until smooth and silky. Season to taste.
METHOD
PICKLED CRANBERRIES
Place all ingredients except the cranberries into a pan. Bring to a boil then turn down the heat and infuse.
Add the cranberries, take off the heat and allow to cool in the pickle.
TO SERVE
For the Garish, toast the chestnuts in a hot oven. Fry sage in the butter until crispy.
Slice the turkey into disks and brown in a heavy based pan with a little oil. Cover in chicken gravy and warm in the oven at 180C for 5 minutes. Warm the parsnip puree.
Place both carefully on a plate, garnish with the pickled cranberries, crispy sage, and the toasted chestnuts.