Turkey Breast Stuffed with Fennel and Red Pepper

By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

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Turkey Breast Stuffed with Fennel and Red Pepper

This recipe makes 8 servings

Bulb fennel isn't a new vegetable, but its popularity is fairly recent in Canada. You can slice it, crunchy and fresh, into a salad or cook it to enhance the mild licorice flavour as we have done for the stuffing in this no-carve turkey breast.

Ingredients

1 1boneless double turkey breastboneless double turkey breasts, (about 3-1/2 lb/1.75 kg)
1 tbsp olive oil 1 1tbsp tbspolive oil
1/4 tsp salt 1/4 1/4tsp tspsalt
1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 1/4tsp tsppepper
2 cups chicken stock 2 2cups cupschicken stock
2 tbsp flour 2 2tbsp tbspflour
1/2 cup dry white wine 1/2 1/2cup cupdry white wine
Stuffing:
4 oz pancetta , chopped4 4oz ozpancetta or bacon, chopped
1 onion , chopped1 1oniononions, chopped
2 cloves garlic , minced2 2cloves garlic, minced
1/2 bulb fennel , chopped1/2 1/2bulb fennel, chopped
1 1tbsp tbspfresh thyme, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon /2 mL, dried)
1/2 tsp salt 1/2 1/2tsp tspsalt
1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 1/4tsp tsppepper
1/4 tsp dried rosemary , crumbled1/4 1/4tsp tspdried rosemary, crumbled
1/4 tsp fennel seeds , crushed1/4 1/4tsp tspfennel seeds, crushed
1/2 1/2cup cuproasted sweet red pepperroasted sweet red peppers, chopped
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs 1/2 1/2cup cupfresh bread crumbs
2 tbsp fresh parsley , chopped2 2tbsp tbspfresh parsley, chopped
2 tbsp pine nuts , toasted2 2tbsp tbsppine nutpine nuts, toasted

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).

Stuffing: In large skillet, cook pancetta over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Spoon off all but 1 tablespoon (15 mL) fat.

Reduce heat to medium; cook onion, garlic, chopped fennel, thyme, salt, pepper, rosemary and fennel seeds, stirring often, until onion is softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper, bread crumbs, parsley and pine nuts; let cool for 10 minutes.

Open turkey breast and lay flat on work surface. Fold back filets toward outside of breast. Spread stuffing over breast, leaving 1-inch (2.5 cm) border on all sides. Starting at 1 side edge, roll up; at 4 evenly spaced intervals, tie with kitchen string.

Brush with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper; place on rack in roasting pan. Pour in 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the chicken stock.

Roast in 325°F (160°C) oven, adding stock if necessary to maintain level, for 2-1/2 hours or until no longer pink inside and meat thermometer inserted in center registers 180°F (82°C). Transfer to cutting board; tent with foil and let stand for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, skim fat from pan juices. Place pan over medium heat; whisk in flour. Whisk in remaining stock and wine. Bring to boil; cook, stirring, until thickened, about 3 minutes. Strain into gravy boat. Slice turkey and serve with sauce.