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Rolled turkey breast with herby lemon & pine nut stuffing

Pancetta-wrapped turkey breast with herby lemon & pine nut stuffing

Rolled turkey breast with herby lemon & pine nut stuffing

Name: Rolled turkey breast with herby lemon & pine nut stuffing
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: Serves 6-8, plus leftovers
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: butter for greasing; 20 rashers pancetta (2 x 70g/2oz packs) or thinly sliced streaky bacon; 1043kg butterflied turkey breast (see know-how below); 25g butter; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 large onions halved and sliced; 140g pack pancetta cubes or bacon lardons; 50g pine nut; 4 garlic cloves chopped; 25g pack sage leaves only, roughly chopped; zest 2 lemons; 2 x 20g/1oz packs flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped; 100g coarse white breadcrumb; 1 egg beaten; 300ml dry white wine; 300ml chicken stock; 142ml pot double cream; handful flat-leaf parsley roughly chopped

Jane Hornby

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Serves 6-8, plus leftovers

Easy

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 2 hrs

A star rating of 4.6 out of 5.23 ratingsRate

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No need for impressive carving skills with this easy-to-serve festive dish with creamy gravy. Our simple rolled turkey breast with pine nut stuffing is ideal for a fuss-free Christmas

Freezable (Can be frozen uncooked )

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

butter

for greasing
20 rashers pancetta

(2 x 70g/2oz packs) or thinly sliced streaky bacon
1043kg butterflied turkey

breast (see know-how below)

For the stuffing

25g butter
1 tbsp olive oil
2 large onions

halved and sliced
140g pack pancetta

cubes or bacon lardons
50g pine nut
4 garlic cloves

chopped
25g pack sage

leaves only, roughly chopped
zest 2 lemons
2 x 20g/1oz packs flat-leaf parsley

roughly chopped
100g coarse white breadcrumb
1 egg

beaten

For the gravy

300ml dry white wine
300ml chicken stock
142ml pot double cream
handful flat-leaf parsley

roughly chopped

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Nutrition: per serving

kcal850
fat43.5g
saturates16.2g
carbs18.6g
sugars6g
fibre1g
protein96g
salt2.96g

Method

step 1

First prepare the stuffing. Heat the butter and oil in a large frying pan, then soften the onion without colouring for 10 mins. Tip into a bowl. Add the pancetta or bacon to the pan, fry for 5 mins until golden, then add the pine nuts, garlic, sage and lemon zest. Fry for 1 min more until fragrant and the pine nuts are starting to brown. Stir in the chopped parsley. Tip into the bowl with the onions, then bind with the crumbs, egg and seasoning.
step 2

Butter and season a sheet of turkey foil or use 2 sheets of foil crimped together to make a sheet about 50 x 60cm. Lay five long pieces of string over the foil like rungs of a ladder, ready to tie the breast together. Arrange the pancetta or bacon in a lattice over the middle of the foil, on top of the string.
step 3

Open out the butterflied breast, skin-side down, and slash each side several times. Cover with cling film and bash with a rolling pin until the meat is about 5cm thick all over. Trim the sides so that you have a roughly rectangular shape (but be careful not to cut the skin). Lift onto the pancetta, then fill any gaps with the trimmings. Season, then press the stuffing along the middle of the joint. Pull up the sides at one end, tucking in the short end, then tie the string tightly so that the stuffing is encased. Repeat with all the strings. Wrap up tightly in the foil, then turn the roll over so that the pancetta is on the top. Can be left in the fridge for up to 2 days.
step 4

Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Sit the joint in a roasting tin and roast for 40 mins per kg or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out very hot and the juices run clear. Unwrap for the last 10 mins of cooking.
step 5

Lift the joint onto a board and leave to rest, covered, for at least 10 mins. For the gravy, heat the tin on the hob, then splash in the wine and any juices. Reduce by half, then add the stock and repeat. Pour in the cream and bubble to a slightly reduced sauce. Season to taste, then stir in the parsley.

RECIPE TIPS

KNOW-HOW - BUTTERFLIED TURKEY BREAST

A butterflied turkey breast is two turkey breasts taken off the bird and still joined by the skin. Ask your butcher to do this for you.

STICKY ROSEMARY & GARLIC ROOTS

Cut 1 medium swede (about 500g), 500g parsnips and 500g carrots into chunks. Peel and cut 2 red onions into 6 wedges each, leaving the root ends intact. Peel 5 garlic cloves; leave whole. Heat 25g butter in a large, lidded frying pan, then add the veg, 1 tbsp chopped rosemary and 4 tbsp veg stock. Season well, then put the lid on and cook gently for about 25 mins or until tender.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2008

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A star rating of 4.6 out of 5.23 ratings

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