Name: Moist turkey crown with chestnut truffle stuffing
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 ½kg turkey crown; 50g butter softened; 1 shallot softened; 200g wild mushroom finely chopped; 50ml madeira; 100g chestnut finely chopped; bunch thyme sprigs; 3 tbsp truffle oil; 3l cold water; 140g salt; 5 tbsp clear honey or brown sugar; 6 thyme sprigs; 1 shallot finely chopped; 1 tbsp flour; 100ml madeira; 400ml chicken stock

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Moist turkey crown with chestnut truffle stuffing

Moist turkey crown with chestnut truffle stuffing

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Serves 4 - 6

Easy

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 1 hr and 10 mins

Plus 20 minutes brining

A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.3 ratingsRate

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If a huge turkey seems too much to bear and turkey sandwiches aren't your thing, opt for a crown instead of a whole bird

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

1 ½kg turkey crown
50g butter

softened
1 shallot

softened
200g wild mushroom

finely chopped
50ml madeira
100g chestnut

finely chopped
bunch thyme

sprigs
3 tbsp truffle oil

For the brine

3l cold water
140g salt
5 tbsp clear honey

or brown sugar
6 thyme

sprigs

For the gravy

1 shallot

finely chopped
1 tbsp flour
100ml madeira
400ml chicken stock

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Nutrition: per serving (6)

kcal449
fat18g
saturates5g
carbs11g
sugars4g
fibre1g
protein55g
salt1.67g

Method

step 1

To make the brine, heat 200ml of the water, salt, honey or sugar and a couple of thyme sprigs in a small pan. When the salt has dissolved, stir together with the remaining water. Place the turkey in a bowl and pour over the brine. Cover and chill for 4-8 hrs.
step 2

For the stuffing, heat a knob of the butter in a frying pan. When melted, add the shallot and fry for a couple of mins until softened. Add the mushrooms and fry for 5 mins until they start to turn golden. Pour over the madeira, add the chestnuts and the leaves from 1 thyme sprig. Cook for 10 mins more until all the liquid has evaporated. Drizzle with the truffle oil and leave to cool, then mix together with the remaining butter.
step 3

Remove the turkey from the brine and discard the liquid. Use kitchen paper to gently pat the meat until it’s dry all over, then use your fingers or a spoon to gently ease under the skin of the bird, making a pocket between its flesh and skin. Smear the truffle butter all over the flesh, following the contours of the breast. Brush a little more butter over the skin, then place in a roasting tin. Can chill at this stage up to 1 day ahead.
step 4

Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roast for 1 hr (about 40 mins per kg). Halfway through cooking, baste with the juices and loosely cover with foil if the skin is browning. Check that the turkey is done by piercing the thickest part with a skewer – the juices should run clear. Remove from the tin and leave to rest, covered loosely with foil, for 10 mins.
step 5

While the turkey is resting, make the gravy. Pour away any excess fat from the roasting tin, then place the tin over a medium heat on the hob. Tip in the shallot, then cook for a couple of mins, stirring often. When the shallot has softened, sprinkle over the flour and mix through. Slowly pour in the madeira, scraping up any caramelised cooking juices. If the gravy starts to turn lumpy, quickly whisk out any lumps. Bring to the boil and simmer until reduced by half, then pour in the chicken stock. Simmer for 5-10 mins until lightly thickened. Strain before serving, if you like.

RECIPE TIPS

EMMA SAYS...

Turkey has a reputation for drying out, so I use a trick I learnt in the US, which is to brine the meat. Basically you marinate the meat in a salt solution, which ensures it stays moist – but don’t worry, it doesn’t drastically increase the overall salt content. Paired with a stuffing of wild mushrooms flavoured with truffles, this makes an impressive centrepiece

CRISP GARLIC POTATOES

Peel 1.5kg potatoes and cut into quarters. Cook in boiling water for 7 mins, then drain well. Return to the pan with 1 tbsp polenta and shake around the pan to fluff up the edges. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat 5 tbsp olive oil in large roasting tin. Tip in the potatoes and 1 garlic bulb, separated into cloves. Roast for 45-50 mins until crisp, turning once during cooking.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2008

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A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.3 ratings

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