Description
A flavorful Cranberry Orange Turkey Breast recipe featuring a spiced brown sugar rub and a tangy cranberry-orange sauce, perfect for a festive main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Turkey
- 1 turkey breast about 4-5 lb
Rub Blend
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 tablespoon dark molasses
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauce
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 can whole berry cranberry sauce 14 ounces
- 1/2 cup Lingonberry Jam (can be replaced with cranberry jam or orange marmalade)
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 orange zested
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F to get ready for roasting the turkey breast evenly.
- Prepare Turkey: Pinch the turkey breast all over with a fork to help the rub absorb better into the meat.
- Make Rub Blend: In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, minced garlic, canola oil, dark molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper until fully combined. Rub this mixture evenly onto the entire turkey breast and set aside to marinate briefly.
- Prepare Sauce Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine fresh cranberries, whole berry cranberry sauce, lingonberry jam (or alternatives), and orange zest. Stir well to make a chunky, flavorful base for the sauce.
- Thicken Sauce: In a separate cup, whisk together orange juice and cornstarch until smooth. Pour this into the cranberry mixture and stir thoroughly to incorporate and thicken when cooked.
- Prepare Roasting Pan: Lightly grease a roasting pan just large enough to hold the turkey breast snugly. Avoid using a very large pan so the turkey cooks properly without drying out.
- Assemble: Place the seasoned turkey breast in the roasting pan and pour the cranberry sauce mixture around it, keeping sauce mostly off the top of the turkey to prevent burning while roasting.
- Roast Turkey: Place the roasting pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 1 hour 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the turkey breast reaches 165 degrees F, ensuring it is cooked through.
- Rest Turkey: Remove the turkey breast from the oven, cover it loosely with aluminum foil, and let it rest for 15 minutes to retain juices and improve slicing.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh cranberries and additional orange zest before slicing and serving for a vibrant presentation and enhanced flavor.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee the turkey reaches 165 degrees F for safe consumption.
- Lingonberry jam can be substituted with cranberry jam or orange marmalade depending on availability and taste preferences.
- Do not pour too much sauce on top of the turkey to avoid burning during roasting.
- Resting the turkey is crucial to allow juices to redistribute, resulting in moist, tender meat.
- If fresh cranberries are not available, frozen can be used but thaw before mixing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
