Turketta Food

PAN-ROASTED TURCHETTA

Steps:

• 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.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• 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.
• 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.

TURKEY BREAST "PORCHETTA"

Steps:

• For the porchetta: The day before roasting, chop 1 teaspoon of the fennel seed and mix it with the orange zest and 2 1/4 teaspoons of the salt. Rub the turkey breast with the salt mixture, then transfer it to a gallon-size freezer bag and refrigerate over night.
• The day of roasting: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Remove the turkey breast from the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the panko in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium heat, stirring with a rubber spatula until golden brown. Remove to a medium bowl and add the remaining 1 teaspoon fennel seed, the red pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Set aside.
• To the same pan, over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, then the apples, shallots, fennel, rosemary and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until the fennel softens, about 5 minutes; add to the bowl with the panko and toss to combine.
• Unfold the butterflied turkey breast and spread the stuffing evenly over the surface of the breast. Tightly roll up the breast and tie it with butcher's twine at 2-inch intervals, then tie it once lengthwise.
• Place the skillet over medium-high heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sear the turkey on all sides until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the oven and roast until an instant read thermometer reads 155 degrees F at the thickest point, about 40 minutes. Remove the turkey to a cutting board, tent with foil and rest for 15 minute before slicing.
• For the gravy: While the porchetta is resting, prepare the gravy. Over medium-high heat, add the rosemary sprigs and flour to the skillet the turkey was cooked in; whisk to form a smooth paste. (If there aren't enough pan drippings to make a paste, add a tablespoon of olive oil.) Cook the paste to a medium amber color over medium-high heat, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the white wine and cook, whisking, for 1 minute more. Add the chicken broth, salt and pepper and whisk until smooth. Bring the gravy to a boil, lower the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain the gravy just before serving. Serve alongside the porchetta.