Herb Turkey Roll

The herb turkey roll is an elegant and flavorful dish, perfect for special occasions or simply for a family Sunday lunch. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey breast (about 1-1.5 kg)
• 100 g sliced pancetta
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 bunch of fresh aromatic herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Kitchen twine

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Open the turkey breast on a cutting board, being careful not to tear it. If necessary, pound it lightly with a meat mallet to even out the thickness.
3. Finely chop the aromatic herbs and garlic, then mix with a pinch of salt and pepper.
4. Lay the pancetta slices over the turkey, covering it completely.
5. Spread the herb and garlic mixture over the pancetta.
6. Carefully roll the turkey onto itself, keeping the filling inside and shaping it into a cylinder.
7. Tie the turkey roll with kitchen twine, ensuring it stays compact during cooking.
8. Grease a baking dish with a drizzle of oil, place the turkey roll in it, and drizzle with a little more oil.
9. Bake the roll and cook for about 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 70 °C.
10. During cooking, baste the roll occasionally with its cooking juices.
11. Once cooked, remove the roll from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before removing the twine and slicing it.

Trivia

Turkey is a white meat highly appreciated for its delicate flavor and for being lean and healthy. The addition of aromatic herbs and pancetta not only enriches the flavor but also helps keep the meat moist during cooking. In Italy, the use of aromatic herbs is a very common practice to flavor meats and tie together the flavors of various ingredients.

This dish can be served with simple sides such as roasted potatoes or seasonal vegetables. Enjoy your meal!