Friday, November 27, 2009

Turkey Wrapped in Ham and Bacon in Mango Brine


I did this as an inexpensive alternative for a whole Thanksgiving turkey.  It tastes great, looks  pretty and is perfect with all sides.  I made it using  all turkey ham and bacon to go with the theme, but you can use pork for different flavors and more fat.  Traditional turkey is good, but seems so  run of the mill,  plus  the  cooking  time  is  less,  can  be done  in  a  smaller  space or preped in advance for easy transport to bring to a dinner party.  In total, it cost me less  than $10 to stuff 2 people and a little girl.  The  mango essence is  great,  especially  if you  are serving  anything  with cranberry and nuts.  I  used the excess  sauce to make a mushroom gravy to pour over  biscuits,  potatoes and wild rice. 

Meat
4 Chicken Breasts
4 Turkey Breasts
4 Slices of Ham
8 Strips of Bacon

Brine
Dissolve
1/4 cup salt 
1/4 cup Sugar
2 cups water

Rub
1 clove garlic minced
Pinch Thyme
Black Pepper
Salt

Marinade
1 cup Mango or Orange Juice
1 Tbls Honey
1 Tbls Maple Syrup
1 Tbls Dijon

Preparation. 

In a large Ziploc bag place turkey and chicken breasts and add brine solution, let sit refrigerated for at least 12 Hours.  Discard brine pat dry.  Rub breasts with salt, garlic, pepper and thyme.  Place chicken breast inside turkey breast, wrap with slice of ham and wrap with 2 slices of bacon.  Place in baking tray, do the same with the others so you should have 4 portions.   Mix ingredients for marinade together and pour on top and let sit for and hour in the fridge

Heat oven to 400 degrees and cover the pan with the breasts in the marinade with foil.  Bake for 1 Hour covered and remove foil. Let bake an additional  15 Minutes.  
Remove from sauce and serve, remaining liquid can be used to make gravy.

Recommended sides
Horseradish Cheddar Whipped Potatoes
Dill Buttermilk Biscuits
Warm Red Cabbage Salad w/ Apple, Pear and Walnuts and Gorgonzola
Wild Rice w/ Walnuts and Leeks
Blue Cornmeal Polenta with Asiago 

 

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