Roasted Turkey Roulade ( Ina Garten , Barefoot Contessa)

ChefDLH's Note:

This is a Ina Garten recipe. An alternative to the traditional turkey feast. She writes," I don't know anyone who looks forward to carving a turkey on Thanksgiving. Instead, I decided to make a roasted turkey breast stuffed with all kinds of delicious things--sausage, cranberries, and figs. No bones and it cooks to juicy perfection in under two hours. How easy is that?" Here for safekeeping for a dinner party meal.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 3/4 cup large-diced dried fig, stems removed
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup calvados or 1/2 cup brandy
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups diced onions (2 onions)
• 1 cup celery (3 stalks 1/2 inch diced)
• 3/4 lb pork sausage, casings removed (sweet and hot mixed)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 3 cups pepperidge farm herb seasoned stuffing mix
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 1 extra-large egg, beaten
• kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 turkey breast, whole (2 halves)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1. Place the dried figs and cranberries in a small saucepan and pour in the Calvados and 1/2 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage, crumbling it into small bits with a fork, and sauté, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, until cooked and browned. Add the figs and cranberries with the liquid, the chopped rosemary, and pine nuts, and cook for 2 more minutes. Scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon.
3. Place the stuffing mix in a large bowl. Add the sausage mixture, chicken stock, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir well. (The stuffing may be prepared ahead and stored in the refrigerator overnight.).
4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place a baking rack on a sheet pan.
5. Lay the butterflied turkey breast skin side down on a cutting board. Sprinkle the meat with 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Spread the stuffing in a 1/2-inch-thick layer over the meat, leaving a half-inch border on all sides. Don’t mound the stuffing or the turkey will be difficult to roll. (Place the leftover stuffing in a buttered gratin dish and bake for the last 45 minutes of roasting alongside the turkey.) Starting at one end, roll the turkey like a jelly roll and tuck in any stuffing that tries to escape on the sides. Tie the roast firmly with kitchen twine every 2 inches to make a compact cylinder.
6. Place the stuffed turkey breast seam side down on the rack on the sheet pan. Brush with the melted butter, sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, and roast for 1-3/4 to 2 hours, until a thermometer reads 150 degrees in the center. (I test in a few places.) Cover the turkey with aluminum foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Carve 1/2-inch-thick slices and serve warm with the extra stuffing.

Reviews

[mary winecoff]

Wonderful special dish. I made this just as written and loved the outcome. Moist and the stuffing was great.