Brined Turkey Breast with Spanish Spice Rub and Sour Orange Sauce
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: 8 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 8 servings
- Calories
- 695
- Total Fat
- 35
- Saturated Fat
- 8
- Carbohydrates
- 39
- Dietary Fiber
- 3
- Sugar
- 31
- Protein
- 55
- Cholesterol
- 160
- Sodium
- 1864
- Total: 2 hr 5 min
- Prep: 20 min
- Inactive: 1 hr
- Cook: 45 min
Ingredients
2 quarts cold water
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 boneless turkey breast, 4 to 5 pounds
Spanish Spice Rub, recipe follows
Vegetable oil
4 oranges, halved
Sour Orange Sauce, recipe follows
Flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium Spanish onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
2 cups fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
4 cups homemade chicken stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Directions
- Place water in a large bowl or plastic container. Whisk in salt and sugar and let sit 5 minutes to dissolve. Add the turkey breast, cover, and let sit in the refrigerator for 45 minutes.
- Heat grill to medium-high. Remove turkey from the brining solution, rinse well under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Rub the skin side of the turkey with the rub. Using tongs, dip paper towels into the oil and oil the grates of the grill. Place the turkey on the grill, rub side down and grill until slightly charred and a crust has formed, about 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat of the grill to medium, turn the turkey over and continue cooking, with the lid closed for 30 to 40 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the breast registers 155 degrees F (the temperature will continue to rise off the heat). Remove from the heat, loosely tent with foil and let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Slice into 1/2-inch thick slices.
- While turkey is resting, brush the cut side of oranges with oil and place cut side down on the grill and grill until slightly charred. Ladle sour orange sauce onto a platter and top with the sliced turkey. Garnish with grilled oranges and parsley leaves.
Spanish Spice Rub:
- 6 tablespoons Spanish paprika
- 2 tablespoons cumin seeds, ground
- 1 tablespoon mustard seeds, ground
- 4 teaspoons fennel seeds, ground
- 4 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Whisk together in a bowl.
- Sour Orange Sauce:
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat on the grates of the grill. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the orange juice, zest, and lime juice and cook until the mixture is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Stir in the honey. Add the chicken stock and cook until it's reduced to a sauce consistency, about 2 cups.
- Strain the sauce into a bowl, whisk in the butter, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the thyme and parsley and serve hot.