Turkey Roulade

One week before Thanksgiving I saw Ina Garten prepare this on TV. And I said, "That's what I will make this year!"

It was delicious.

 Ingredients

nocoupons

• 3/4 cup large-diced dried figs, stems removed
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup Calvados or brandy
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups diced onions (2 onions)
• 1 cup (1/2-inch-diced) celery (3 stalks)
• 3/4 pound pork sausage, casings removed (sweet and hot mixed) (I used only sweet)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 3 cups herb-seasoned stuffing mix (recommended: Pepperidge Farm)
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 1 extra-large egg, beaten
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 whole (2 halves) turkey breast, boned and butterflied (5 pounds)
• 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 saute until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage, crumbling it into small bits with a fork, and saute, 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.) (This is what I did.)

4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. 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.)

6. Starting at 1 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.

7. 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 an instant-read thermometer registers 150 degrees F 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.

Note: I used a roasting pan. After one hour I felt that the turkey roulade was not browning sufficiently, so I raised the oven temperature to 400. Total cooking time was 2 hours and the turkey roulade was moist and very flavorful.

Here's my plate:

I also made butternut squash (not pictured; flavored with maple syrup), garlic mashed potatoes, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sun-dried tomatoes (These I trimmed, cut in half, seasoned with Kosher salt and pepper and 2 tablespoons of olive oil and roasted in oven for about 30 minutes, turning once and adding the sun-dried tomatoes the last five minutes. Susan made the cranberry sauce, to which she adds mango.

Do you have a favorite turkey recipe?
I would love to hear from you!

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