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Herb Butter Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry Mostarda and Brown Butter Sauce

Juicy herb butter roasted turkey breast with a spiced cranberry mostarda and nutty brown butter sauce for a festive main.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 1
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 980

Ingredients
  

For the Turkey Breast
  • 8 1/2 to 9 pounds whole bone-in, skin-on turkey breast
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mixed hearty herbs rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme
  • to taste kosher salt
  • to taste freshly cracked black pepper
For the Cranberry Mostarda
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine such as a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup sparkling white grape juice or ginger ale
  • 3/4 cup pure cranberry juice
  • 1 tablespoon mustard powder
  • 2 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 1 whole star anise
  • 1/2 pound dried cranberries about 2 cups
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
For the Brown Butter Sauce
  • 2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter cut into pieces
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mixed hearty herbs rosemary, oregano, sage, thyme
  • 1 pinch kosher salt

Method
 

Roasted Turkey Breast
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Set a wire rack inside a large roasting pan. Pat the turkey breast dry with paper towels and place it on the rack.
  2. Rub the softened butter all over the turkey breast until completely coated. Press the chopped herbs into the butter, then season generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  3. Roast the turkey for 30 minutes until the skin is golden and crisp.
  4. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and continue roasting for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 160°F. Tent the skin loosely with foil halfway through if it starts getting too dark.
  5. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board, cover it loosely with foil, and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
  6. Slice the rested turkey with a sharp knife and serve with the cranberry mostarda and brown butter sauce.
Cranberry Mostarda
  1. In a small bowl, combine the yellow mustard seeds with the white wine and white wine vinegar. Let soak at room temperature for 1 hour.
  2. In a 2-quart saucepan, whisk together the soaked mustard seed mixture, sugar, sparkling white grape juice, cranberry juice, and mustard powder. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the cinnamon sticks and star anise, and simmer gently without stirring until the syrup coats the back of a spoon, about 25 to 30 minutes.
  4. Stir in the dried cranberries and a pinch of salt. Let the mostarda cool completely, then refrigerate until ready to serve. It can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Brown Butter Sauce
  1. In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, swirling frequently, until the butter becomes deep golden brown and smells nutty, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  2. Stir in the chopped herbs and a pinch of salt. Serve the brown butter sauce warm over the sliced turkey.

Nutrition

Calories: 980kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 67gFat: 49gSaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 270mgSodium: 650mgFiber: 1gSugar: 66g

Notes

Use a probe thermometer to avoid overcooking; pull the turkey at 160°F because carryover heat will bring it to 165°F.
If the skin darkens too much, tent it with foil, but do not cover tightly or the skin will lose its crispness.
The cranberry mostarda can be made up to 7 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Ginger ale makes a fine substitute for sparkling white grape juice, and apple cider vinegar works well in place of white wine vinegar.
Let the turkey rest at least 15 minutes so the juices settle and the slices stay moist.
The brown butter sauce is best made fresh, but it can be gently rewarmed before serving.
For a gluten-free meal, check that the mustard, vinegar, and sparkling grape juice are certified gluten-free.

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