Recipe

Turkey with apricot & hazelnut stuffing

Instead of taking on a whole turkey this year. Why not try this turkey breast stuffed with apricot and hazelnut stuffing?

Dec 13, 2020 1:00pm
  • 1 hr 15 mins cooking (plus standing)
  • Serves 8
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Ingredients

  • 125 g (4oz) baby spinach
  • ⅓ cup (50g) dried apricots or cherries, chopped coarsely
  • ⅓ cup (45g) roasted hazelnuts, chopped coarsely
  • 1 cup (70g) fresh breadcrumbs (see tips)
  • 1 kg (2lb) frozen ready-to-roast turkey breast, thawed
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 6 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 tablespoons brandy
  • 1 cup (250ml) salt-reduced chicken stock

Method

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
  • 2
    Place spinach in a heatproof bowl; pour over boiling water, stand for 1 minute. Drain; cool under running water. Squeeze small handfuls of spinach to remove excess liquid; chop and place in a medium bowl. Stir in apricot, hazelnuts and breadcrumbs; season.
  • 3
    Place turkey breast on a sheet of baking paper large enough to enclose turkey. Slice breast in half lengthways, without cutting all the way through; open out flat.
  • 4
    Spoon stuffing over one cut-side of the breast, fold the other side over stuffing to enclose. Brush turkey with oil, season; top with thyme.
  • 5
    Secure with kitchen string. Place turkey in a large shallow roasting pan; roast for 45 minutes.
  • 6
    Remove string using kitchen scissors. Cover turkey loosely with foil; stand for 10 minutes.
  • 7
    Bring brandy to the boil in a medium saucepan; boil for 1 minute. Add stock and any juices from turkey pan; boil until reduced by half. Serve sliced turkey with the brandy sauce.

Notes

For extra flavour, wrap 125g (4oz) thinly sliced pancetta or prosciutto slices around the stuffed turkey before roasting. Breadcrumbs are best made from bread that is slightly stale, about 3 days old. If you only have fresh bread, leave the slices out on the bench for a few hours to dry. Process bread, with or without crusts, until coarse crumbs form.If you're entertaining a larger crowd, simply double the recipe to feed 12.

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