Ingredients

The following ingredients have 10 Servings
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced and divided
  • 5 tbsp butter (1 reserved), left out of fridge for 20 minutes or so to soften
  • 1 sprig rosemary, finely chopped
  • 4 sage leaves, chopped
  • 1 sprig thyme, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 lbs boneless turkey breast
  • 2 tbsp shallot
  • 1 3/4 cup chicken stock (swap in 1/4 cup reserved porcini liquid or other such rich broth if you have it)
  • sliver lemon peel
  • pinch thyme
  • pinch lavender or substitute 2 basil leaves, chopped
  • 2 sage leaves

Instruction

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees convection setting (350 conventional).
  • Make the herb butter: place 4 tablespoons of the softened butter in a small bowl. Add 1/2 of the minced garlic, the rosemary, 4 chopped sage leaves, the chopped thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine well, and set aside.
  • With a clean paper towel, pat the turkey breast dry upon removing it from packaging. Set the turkey out on a clean work surface, and rub the butter all over the turkey. Put more on the skin side, work some under the skin if you can.
  • Place the turkey breast on a roasting rack, in a roasting pan. Place in the oven and roast. Roasting times vary based on your oven and the size of the turkey. Roasting times for a 3 to 5 lb turkey breast typically given as 90 to 120 minutes. Check at 90 minutes, temperature in middle should be 170 degrees. Ours took about 100 minutes in a convection oven to be ready. When done, remove the turkey breast from oven and let rest for 10 minutes on a large platter.
  • Begin making the light gravy after the turkey has been cooking for 30 minutes or so. Heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a sauce pan. Add the shallot, and cook 5 minutes until softened.
  • Add the chicken stock to the sauce pan, and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to simmer.
  • Add the lemon peel, pinch of thyme, lavender and 2 sage leaves. Simmer the stock until it is reduced by about 1/2. Keep warm.
  • After you’ve put together the gravy ingredients and they are simmering together, pull out a quarter cup and use that to baste the turkey about halfway through the cooking time.
  • When the turkey is cooked, strain the broth through a sieve, with a bowl underneath to catch and reserve the liquid. Pour the liquid into the roasting pan. Place the pan on the stove top, and bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and stir frequently, scraping the bottom of the pan to incorporate the bits of turkey fat that dropped to the bottom of the pan during the roasting. Simmer for a few minutes, then pour the liquid into a serving bowl.
  • Slice the the turkey, and plate a few pieces along with your side dishes. Serve with the light gravy and a bottle of red wine!