This Mediterranean Stuffed Turkey Breast is a flavorful and healthy alternative to a traditional Thanksgiving turkey. The Mediterranean-inspired stuffing provides a burst of vibrant flavors and a variety of textures, while the lean turkey breast is high in protein and low in saturated fat, making it a nutritious and well-balanced main dish.
This recipe is a delightful and health-conscious twist on the classic Thanksgiving turkey. Its unique flavors, health benefits, and adaptability make it an exceptional choice for your holiday table.
What is great about Mediterranean Stuffed Turkey Breast?
A Mediterranean Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe has several outstanding qualities that make it a fantastic option for a Thanksgiving meal:
Flavorful and Unique: The Mediterranean-inspired stuffing, with ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese, adds a burst of vibrant flavors and unique textures to the turkey. It provides a refreshing departure from traditional stuffing, offering a culinary adventure for your taste buds.
Balanced and Satisfying: The combination of protein from the turkey breast and fiber from the stuffing creates a balanced and satisfying dish. This ensures that your Thanksgiving meal not only tastes great but also leaves you feeling nourished and content without the heaviness often associated with traditional holiday fare.
Customizable: You can easily customize the recipe to suit your preferences. Whether you want to make it vegetarian, add more or different Mediterranean ingredients, or adapt it to specific dietary requirements, this recipe is quite flexible.
Great for Smaller Gatherings: If you have a smaller Thanksgiving gathering and don't need a full turkey, the stuffed turkey breast is an ideal choice. It provides the traditional holiday turkey experience on a smaller scale.
Tips
If you prefer a vegetarian version, you can stuff a butternut squash or bell peppers with the Mediterranean quinoa mixture.
Use fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or parsley instead of basil for added Mediterranean aroma.
Mediterranean Stuffed Turkey Breast
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Yield: 4 Servings
Ingredients:
1 boneless turkey breast (about 2-3 pounds)
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup chopped spinach
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Kitchen twine for tying the turkey breast
Cooking spray or additional olive oil for basting
Feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Lay the turkey breast flat on a cutting board and butterfly it open by making a horizontal cut along the length of the breast, leaving it connected on one side.
3. Season the inside of the turkey breast with salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, chopped spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, minced garlic, fresh basil, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Mix well to create the stuffing.
5. Spread the stuffing evenly over the opened turkey breast, leaving a small border around the edges.
6. Carefully roll up the turkey breast, starting from the side where it's connected. Secure it with kitchen twine, tying it at regular intervals to keep the filling in place.
7. Place the stuffed turkey breast in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet. Brush the outside with the remaining olive oil, and season with additional salt and pepper.
8. Roast the stuffed turkey breast in the preheated oven for about 60-75 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when measured with a meat thermometer.
9. Baste the turkey breast with cooking spray or additional olive oil every 20 minutes during roasting to keep it moist and enhance browning.
10. Once done, remove the turkey from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing it into rounds. Serve with feta cheese and your favorite Thanksgiving sides.
Enjoy!
White Wine: A crisp and refreshing white wine, such as a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay, complements the Mediterranean flavors and pairs well with turkey.
Red Wine: A light to medium-bodied red like Pinot Noir or Merlot can also be a great choice, especially if you enjoy red wine with poultry.
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