Best Baja Citrus Turkey Breast Recipes

CITRUS GRILLED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• For the turkey and marinade: Combine the pineapple, Worcestershire, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, orange zest and juice and lime zest and juice in a large bowl. Add the turkey breast, toss to coat and cover tightly with plastic wrap. (Or pour the marinade into a resealable plastic bag with the turkey breast.) Marinate, refrigerated, for 3 to 4 hours.
• For the rub: Combine the salt, oregano, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder and some black pepper in a small bowl.
• Preheat a grill to 350 degrees F.
• Remove the turkey from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Rub the turkey all over with the rub, then lightly oil the skin.
• Place the turkey skin-side down on the grill. Cook until the skin begins to lightly char and crisp, about 10 minutes. Flip the turkey, then cover the grill and cook until the turkey registers 165 degrees F, 40 to 45 minutes more. Loosely tent the turkey with foil and let rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.
• For serving: Serve the sliced turkey on buns with the Sweet-and-Sour Pineapple Marmalade and sliced red onion.
• Whisk the orange juice, vinegar, brown sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Add the pineapple, red onion and jalapeno. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens, 15 to 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.

CITRUS-SAGE ROAST TURKEY BREAST WITH GRAVY: SMALL CROWD

Steps:

• Roast turkey breast:
• Heat oven to 425°F with rack in lowest position. Discard any excess fat from inside turkey cavity. Pat dry inside and out.
• Stir together butter, sage, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Grate enough zest from orange to measure 1 teaspoon and add to butter mixture. Halve orange lengthwise and save one half for another use. Cut remaining half into wedges.
• Starting at wider, thicker end of breast, gently slide an index finger between skin and flesh of breast to loosen skin, leaving skin attached to breast at other end (be careful not to tear skin). Push butter mixture evenly under skin on both sides of breast, and massage skin from outside to distribute butter evenly.
• Put turkey on V rack in roasting pan and sprinkle all over with 3/4 teaspoon salt (if using a kosher turkey, see the Cooks' notes) and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Put orange and red onion wedges in area between rack and breast. Add 1 cup water to pan and roast turkey 30 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Rotate breast 180 degrees and baste with pan juices, then roast 30 minutes.
• Rotate breast again 180 degrees, and baste with pan juices. Tent breast loosely with foil and continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast (test both sides, close to but not touching bone) registers 165°F, 25 to 40 minutes longer. (Baste with juices once more; if pan becomes completely dry, add 1/2 cup water.) (Total roasting time: about 1 1/2 hours.)
• Transfer turkey to a platter, reserving juices in pan. Let turkey stand, uncovered, 25 minutes. Discard orange and onion wedges.
• Make gravy while turkey stands:
• Pour pan juices through a fine-mesh sieve into 1-quart glass measure (do not clean roasting pan), then skim off and discard fat. (If using a fat separator, pour pan juices through sieve into separator and let stand until fat rises to top, 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully pour pan juices from separator into measure, discarding fat.)
• Position roasting pan across 2 burners, then add 1 cup water and deglaze roasting pan by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Pour through sieve into glass measure containing pan juices. Add enough turkey stock to pan juices to bring total to 2 1/4 cups (if stock is congealed, heat to liquefy).
• Melt butter in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium-low heat and whisk in flour. Cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Add stock mixture in a stream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps, then bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. Stir in any turkey juices accumulated on platter and simmer 5 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper.

CITRUS & HERB ROASTED TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• In a 6-qt. stockpot, combine the first 8 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add cold juices to brine; cool to room temperature., Place 1 oven roasting bag inside the other. Place turkey breast inside both bags; pour in cooled brine. Seal bags, pressing out as much air as possible, and turn to coat. Place in a roasting pan. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally., In a small bowl, beat herb butter ingredients until blended. Remove turkey from brine; rinse and pat dry. Discard brine. Place turkey on a rack in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub herb butter under the skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Refrigerate, covered, 18-24 hours., Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, mix butter and seasoned salt; brush over outside of turkey. Roast 15 minutes., Reduce oven setting to 325°. Roast 1-3/4-2-1/4 hours longer or until a thermometer reads 170°. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.) Remove turkey from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 15 minutes before carving.

BAJA SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients; stir well. Best to let it meld flavors for an hour or so before using.

CITRUS HERB TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Line a roasting pan with 3 pieces of heavy-duty foil (pieces should be long enough to cover turkey). Mince half the rosemary and thyme from each package (about 1/4 cup total). In a small bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and minced herbs until blended. With fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey breast; rub butter mixture under the skin. Secure skin to underside of breast with toothpicks. Mix seasoned salt, garlic powder and pepper; sprinkle over turkey and inside turkey cavity., Cube remaining butter. In a large bowl, combine butter, apple, orange, onion, orange pepper and remaining herb sprigs; spoon inside cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together. Place turkey in prepared pan, breast side up., Bring edges of foil over turkey to cover. Roast, covered, 1 hour. Carefully open foil and fold it down. Reduce oven setting to 325°. Roast, uncovered, 1-1/2 to 2 hours longer or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°. Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly., Remove turkey from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 20 minutes before carving. Discard fruit mixture from cavity. If desired, skim fat and thicken pan drippings for gravy. Serve with turkey.

CHILE-CITRUS TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Toast chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until slightly softened and pliable, about 5 minutes. Remove seeds and ribs. Place chiles in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer chiles to a blender. Add orange and lime juices, garlic, onion, and salt; blend until smooth. Transfer 3/4 cup sauce to small bowl and refrigerate.
• Rub turkey with remaining sauce and place in a baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in refrigerator at least 2 hours (up to 12 hours).
• Remove turkey from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Roast in oven for about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer turkey to a cutting board; let stand about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with warm tortillas and reserved sauce.

ROASTED CITRUS TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Thaw the frozen turkey.
• Rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
• In a medium bowl, combine the parsley, thyme and rosemary.
• Grate the oranges and lemon peel and set the oranges and lemon aside.
• Add the peels to the herb mixture and toss until combined.
• Rub the herb mixture over the skin of the turkey.
• Place the turkey on a rack in a large roasting pan.
• Cut the oranges and lemon in half and squeeze their juices over the turkey.
• Also sprinkle the turkey with the pepper and paprika.
• Insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the breast.
• Loosely cover the turkey with foil during roasting to avoid over browning.
• Roast turkey uncovered, at 325 degrees for 2 1/2 hours or until the thermometer registers 170 degrees to 175 degrees.
• Baste turkey often with the pan juices.
• Remove and discard the skin before serving.