Lemon Basil Turkey Breast Recipes

GRILLED TURKEY BREAST WITH LEMON AND BASIL

Steps:

• If using charcoal grill, place drip pan directly under grilling area, and arrange coals around edge of firebox. Heat coals or gas grill for indirect heat. Loosen skin on turkey in 4 or 5 places. Carefully place lemon slices and basil leaves under skin. Rub turkey skin with oil; sprinkle with lemon-pepper seasoning. Insert barbecue meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of turkey.
• Cover and grill turkey, skin side down, over drip pan or over unheated side of gas grill and 4 to 6 inches from medium heat 20 minutes; turn. Cover and grill 35 to 45 minutes longer or until thermometer reads 170°F and juice of turkey is clear when center is cut.
• Remove turkey from grill; cover with foil tent and let stand 10 minutes. Slice turkey.

ROAST TURKEY WITH BASIL-SHALLOT BUTTER

Steps:

• Let the turkey sit at room temperature for about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Remove the packet of neck and giblets from the turkey and set aside. Cut away any fatty pieces near the cavity or neck and discard. Pat the turkey dry inside and out with paper towels and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper inside and out.
• Combine the butter, basil, lemon juice, shallot, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl with a rubber spatula. Loosen the skin over the turkey breast and push half of the butter mixture under the skin and over the breast meat. Rub the skin with the rest of the butter mixture. Stuff the cavity with the parsley and lemons. Tie the legs together with twine. Tuck the wings under the body and put the turkey breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan.
• Roast until the turkey begins to turn golden, about 25 minutes. Loosely tent the breast with foil, then reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Continue roasting, basting with pan drippings every 30 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh joint reaches about 155 degrees F. Remove the foil and continue roasting until it reaches 165 degrees F, about 30 minutes longer. Transfer the turkey and rack to a cutting board and let rest about 30 minutes.
• Discard the parsley and lemons from the cavity before carving.

TURKEY BREAST WITH LEMON AND CAPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Let the turkey breasts stand at room temperature for 1 hour prior to cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Fit a baking sheet with a wire rack.
• Pat the turkey breasts dry and season heavily with salt and pepper all over. Put the olive oil in a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Sear the breasts skin-side down until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the breasts over and add the garlic, thyme, rosemary and 4 tablespoons of the butter to the skillet. Once the butter has melted, use a spoon to baste the turkey breasts with the herb and garlic infused butter for 30 seconds.
• Transfer the breasts to the rack on the baking sheet, pour the butter and herb mixture over the breasts and cook, basting every 15 minutes, until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the breast reaches 160 degrees F, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Transfer to a cutting board, tent with aluminum foil and rest for 15 minutes.
• Deglaze the skillet that the breasts were seared in with the white wine over medium-high heat, then reduce until almost dry, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the turkey stock and reduce by 90 percent, another 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and slowly whisk in the remaining 6 tablespoons butter, keeping the mixture creamy and emulsified. Once all the butter is incorporated, add the capers, parsley, lemon zest and shallot. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Slice the turkey and transfer it to a platter. Pour some sauce over the slices and serve the rest of the sauce on the side. Garnish with fresh herb sprigs if desired.

LEMON-GARLIC TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Line bottom of a greased 6-qt. slow cooker with three-fourths of the lemon slices. Place turkey over lemons, breast side up. Mix parsley, garlic, lemon zest, pepper seasoning and salt; rub over turkey. Top with remaining lemon slices. Cook, covered, on low until turkey is tender, 5-6 hours., Remove turkey from slow cooker; tent with foil. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. If desired, skim fat and thicken pan drippings for sauce; serve with turkey.

LEMON-HERB ROASTED TURKEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest and minced thyme. Pat turkey dry. Sprinkle salt and pepper over skin of turkey and inside cavity; brush with butter mixture. Place the lemon, onion, garlic and thyme sprigs inside cavity. Tuck wings under turkey; tie drumsticks together., Place flour in oven bag and shake to coat. Place bag in a roasting pan; add turkey to bag, breast side up. Cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag; close bag with tie provided., Bake at 350° for 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours or until a thermometer reads 180°. Remove turkey to a serving platter and keep warm. Let stand for 15 minutes before carving. If desired, thicken pan drippings for gravy. Freeze option: Freeze cooled turkey and gravy in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a covered skillet, gently stirring and adding a little broth or water if necessary.

GRILLED BASIL LEMON TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• Prepare your grill with chimney allowing about 30 minutes.
• Cut off lemon rind, remove outside white, discard or use for different purpose. Mince lemon pulp, discard seeds.
• Combine lemon, cheese, basil, and garlic.
• With fingers, carefully loosen skin from the turkey breast; place mixture under the skin.
• Rub oil on turkey skin and sprinkle liberally with lemon pepper. Don't forget meat thermometer into thickest part of turkey breast. Wrap wing tips and drumstick ends with foil so they don't char.
• Remove chimney, then dh uses 60 briquettes and divide them up with drip foil pan in center so heat will be around drip pan. Dh says it is a big mistake not having enough briquettes. Add water to drip pan, put on your grate.
• Place turkey directly onto grate, open cavity down.
• Grill, covered, vents open. Keep an eye on it, tent turkey if getting too dark. When turkey hits 165, measure into thigh joint where it meets body; it should be 170 degrees.
• For 7 pounds, we had on for 2 hours and 5 minutes BUT it depends upon the heat and size of turkey half, so use your meat thermometer. For our second turkey half we had a 6 pounder on 1 hour and 35 minutes.
• For 4 to 5 pounds, I am GUESSING 1 hour and 15 to 30 minutes? Use your meat thermometer to cook it to your preference.
• When done to correct temperature, remove to platter, cover with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes. That's your window to getting everything else done before you sit down to feast. Enjoy!

LEMON-HERB TURKEY BREAST

Steps:

• In a blender, combine the lemon juice, oil, soy sauce, parsley, onions, garlic, mustard and seasonings; cover and process until smooth. Pour 1 cup marinade into a 2-gal. resealable plastic bag; add turkey. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cover and refrigerate remaining marinade for basting. , Line the bottom of a large shallow roasting pan with foil. Drain and discard marinade; place turkey on a rack in prepared pan. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 2 to 2-1/2 hours or until a thermometer reads 170°, basting every 30 minutes with reserved marinade. (Cover loosely with foil if turkey browns too quickly.) Cover and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.,