Chestnut Apricot Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe 425

Steps:

• Heat broth in a saucepan over medium heat until boiling, about 5 minutes. Add apricots, remove from the heat, and let sit until apricots are plump, about 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over low heat. Add onion and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add broth-apricot mixture, apples, thyme, sage, and pepper; stir until combined. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• Add bread crumbs gradually, folding them in until stuffing is moist but not sticky. Mix in the pecans. Transfer to a casserole dish and cover with a lid or aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, 20 to 25 minutes.

Steps:

• To prepare the stuffing, melt the butter in a large sauté pan. Add the celery and the onion and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the apricots, chestnuts, chicken stock, salt, pepper, sage, and thyme. Bring the mixture up to a simmer, and then remove the pan from the heat. Add the bread cubes and toss until the liquid has been fully absorbed. Place the stuffing on a baking sheet and refrigerate until it's completely cooled. While the stuffing is cooling, prepare turkey breast. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Carefully remove the skin from the turkey breast in one piece and place it aside to be used later. Butterfly the breast open like a book using a small, very sharp knife, being careful not to cut all the way through. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the entire breast. With a meat mallet, pound the breast into an even thickness of about 1/4", and then remove the plastic wrap. Begin stuffing the turkey breast by spreading the bread mixture lengthwise down the middle of the breast. Roll the turkey around the stuffing and then roll the breast over, so the seam is on the bottom. Stretch the reserved skin over the top of the breast, and then tie it in 6-8 sections with butcher's twine around the middle. Place the turkey in a roasting pan and season it with salt and pepper. Place it in the oven for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 155°F on a meat thermometer. Let the turkey rest, then slice and serve.

Steps:

• First make the stuffing. Pour the madeira or wine into a bowl, then crumble in the mushrooms. Fry the onions in the butter for 10 mins, until golden. Cool, then mix with the thyme leaves, the mushrooms and their soaking liquid, and all remaining ingredients, apart from 8 of the chestnuts and the bacon. Season well.
• Set aside half of the stuffing. Line a greased 500g loaf tin with bacon. Pack the rest of the stuffing into the tin, then bring the rashers round over the top and secure in place with cocktail sticks. Use the reserved chestnuts to fill the spaces where the bacon meets. Chill until ready to cook. This will keep in the fridge uncooked for 2 days or can be frozen for up to a month.
• Prepare the turkey. The night before, put the onion quarters, reserved lemon halves and thyme sprigs in the cavity between the legs. Pack the reserved stuffing into the neck end. Secure the neck skin with skewers and tie the legs together. Weigh the turkey. Calculate the cooking time at 40 mins per kilo, plus 20 mins.
• Put a large sheet of extra-wide foil in a large roasting tin and put the turkey on top. Smear the breast with the butter, then grate over half of the nutmeg and season well. Cover with bacon, then pour over the glass of madeira or wine. Seal the foil well to make a parcel. Chill overnight.
• On the day, take the turkey out of the fridge 1 hr before roasting. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Put the turkey in the oven; then, 90 mins before the end of cooking, remove foil and bacon, and drain off the juices from the tin to use in the gravy. To test whether the turkey is cooked, push a skewer into the thickest part of the thigh - the juices should run clear. If they are pinkish, cook for 15 mins more, then test again.
• Transfer the turkey to a platter, cover with foil, then a couple of tea towels, and allow to rest for at least 30 mins before carving. Meanwhile, cook the stuffing loaf for 30 mins and reheat the bacon. Garnish with watercress and serve the stuffing loaf separately.