Herb Roasted Turkey Breasts With Pan Gravy

Submitted by Chef Jodi Town

"This is the turkey I make for all holiday dinners. Rachael Ray makes it with breasts only, and that's what this recipe follows, but I make it with the whole bird. So moist and tender, and great flavor."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 5mins
• Ingredients: 15
• Serves: 8-10

ingredients

• 1 small onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 lemon, scrubbed clean
• 12 fresh sage leaves
• 1⁄4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• olive oil, for oiling pan
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
• 6 fresh bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 (2 -2 1/2 lb) boneless turkey breast halves, skin on
• fresh ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup apple brandy (recommended ( Calvados)
• 2 -3 cups apple cider
• salt and pepper

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Oil a roasting pan and set it aside.
2. Put the onion into the bowl of a food processor. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the zest from the lemon in thin strips, being careful not to cut into the bitter white pith. Add the lemon zest to the food processor and reserve the whole lemon for another use. Chop the onion and lemon zest until fine. Add the sage, parsley, olive oil, and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse until it forms a coarse paste.
3. Put 2 of the bay leaves and the butter into a small pan and heat over medium-low heat until the butter is bubbling. Remove from the heat and set aside.
4. Put the turkey breasts on a work surface. Carefully run your fingers between the skin and the flesh from 1 end, being careful not to pull it completely off, creating a pocket. Season the turkey breasts generously with salt and pepper. Stuff half of the herb paste under the skin of each breast, and spread it evenly under the skin. Transfer the breasts to the roasting pan, and slide 2 bay leaves underneath each one. (The heat of the pan will release the bay leaf oils and flavor the breast.) Using a pastry brush, baste the breasts with half of the bay butter.
5. Place the turkey in the oven and immediately decrease the temperature to 400 degrees F. After 20 minutes, baste the turkey breasts with the remaining butter, and roast for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, until cooked through, and a thermometer placed in the thickest part of the breast registers 170 degrees F.
6. Remove from the oven, transfer to a platter, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes before carving while you make the gravy.
7. Put the roasting pan over the burner on medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the pan juices, and cook, stirring, for a few minutes. Add the apple brandy, and scrape the pan to lift the bits that are stuck to the bottom. Cook for a minute to burn off the alcohol, then, while stirring, pour in the apple cider. Bring to a simmer, and stir until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Slice the turkey breast on the diagonal, and serve with warm gravy.

Reviews

[LonghornMama]

Took Jodi's suggestion and used this recipe for a whole turkey. Baked at 325 degrees until thermometer in breast registered 170 degrees. Skin was beautiful, breast meat was quite moist. Not sure how I feel about chopped onion with roast turkey, but it did add a lot of moisture and flavor to the meat. What I really loved about this recipe was the pan gravy. I hate gravy. Never eat it or make it. But this was fabulous and incredibly easy. Much more flavorful than I expected from the simple ingredients. Did strain it before serving, though. Thanks for sharing the recipe! Made for PAC Fall 2008.