Pan-Roasted Turchetta

  5.0 – 4 reviews  • Roasting
Level: Intermediate
Total: 6 hr 30 min
Active: 30 min
Yield: 8 to 12 servings

Ingredients

  1. Extra-virgin olive oil
  2. 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  3. 2 tablespoons rubbed sage
  4. 1 1/2 tablespoons fennel seeds
  5. 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  6. 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  7. Freshly ground black pepper
  8. 1 teaspoon chile flakes
  9. Kosher salt
  10. One (6-pound) whole boneless turkey breast, both lobes connected, breast bone removed, skin on
  11. 1/2 cup chicken stock

Instructions

  1. In a mortar and pestle, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, sage, fennel seeds, thyme, rosemary, 1 tablespoon black pepper, chile flakes and 2 teaspoons salt. Grind and pound the mixture into a smooth paste. Place the turkey breast skin side down on a clean flat surface. With a sharp knife, butterfly the turkey by cutting down the long side of the breast so it can open up like a book to create a large, flat rectangle of even thickness. Score the flesh lightly in a cross-hatch pattern, being careful not to cut too deeply into the flesh. Season the turkey with salt and black pepper. Rub the herb-spice paste into all the cuts on the surface of the turkey breast. Roll the butterflied breast together tightly starting with the side that does not have skin underneath it (that way there is skin on the outer layers when rolling it up). Form the turkey into a cylinder and secure with butcher¿s twine. Tie the roll every 1 1/2 inches, then place in the refrigerator for 4 hours uncovered; this will help the turkey firm up and allows the salt to do a short dry cure on the meat.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  3. Remove the turchetta from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Brush the turchetta with olive oil and season with salt and black pepper. In a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, brown the turchetta, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Arrange the turchetta skin side up and place the whole pan into the oven and cook until the internal temperature reaches 150 degrees F (carryover cooking will increase the temperature as the turchetta rests), about 1 hour 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, place on a large plate, tent with foil and rest 15 to 20 minutes. Add the chicken stock to the reserved juices in the pan and stir to combine. Keep warm.
  4. To serve the turchetta, remove the string and use a sharp carving knife to slice it into 1-inch-thick medallions. Shingle the slices on a large serving platter, spoon cooking juice over the turchetta, and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 10 servings
Calories 438
Total Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Carbohydrates 3 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugar 0 g
Protein 54 g
Cholesterol 160 mg
Sodium 683 mg

Reviews

Jason Bailey
Exexcelent is a delicious option
Jerry Graham
I love turkey.
Stephanie Green
Oh, yes. My wife got a whole turkey breast and I didn’t know what to do with it… This worked. However, I have NEVER de-boned a turkey breast before, it ain’t easy. (I did get 2 quarts of awesome turkey stock out of it.) Also, I would recommend a 12 inch cast iron skillet, 10 inch is almost to small. BUT, this is now a family fave.

 

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