Steaming Turkey Rolls: A Tasty, Healthy Oven Treat

Cooking a turkey roll in a steam oven is a great way to ensure your meat is juicy and tender. The steam oven method is also much faster than using a conventional oven, cutting the cooking time by up to half.

To start, season your turkey roll and place it in a roasting pan with about an inch of water in the bottom. Put the pan in the oven and turn it down to 325°F. Roast for 30-40 minutes per pound, until the internal temperature reaches 170-180°F. Then, remove the turkey, cover it, and let it rest for 15 minutes. Finally, transfer it to a cutting board, remove the twine, and slice it into 1-inch pieces.

How to prep, roll and tie the turkey roll

Prepping the Turkey Roll

• If you are using a whole turkey breast, cut the meat away from the bone. Try to keep the meat in one long piece. You can save the bones from the breast to make a gravy or soup later.
• If you are using boneless turkey breasts, slice them horizontally to make two long pieces. On the thicker side of the breast, cut the meat in a horizontal line until you're about one inch away from the other side of the meat. Leave the two halves connected to form one long piece of meat.
• Place the turkey on a cutting board and cover the meat with plastic wrap. This will protect the meat and keep it from breaking apart when you're flattening it.
• Use a mallet to flatten the turkey to one inch thick. Pound the turkey breast flat with a mallet, focusing on thicker areas. You can make the meat as thin as half an inch, but flattening it any more than that can cause the turkey to tear when you roll it.
• If you don't have a mallet, you can use a rolling pin or the rounded side of a frying pan to press and flatten the meat.

Rolling the Turkey

• Lay bacon strips vertically on a piece of parchment paper and place the flattened turkey breast on top. If your turkey breast is much longer than the bacon, add additional strips to either end until the row of bacon is as long as the turkey.
• Spoon the stuffing horizontally across the centre of the turkey in a log shape. Use your hands or a spoon to form it into a log shape, with about two inches of uncovered turkey above and below the stuffing.
• Using your hands, lift the bottom part of the turkey that isn't covered by stuffing and fold it across the top of the stuffing log. Then, lift and fold the top half of the turkey across the stuffing to create the beginning of the roll.
• Working from left to right, fold the bottom and top parts of the bacon around the turkey breast. The ends of the bacon should overlap on the top of the turkey roll, wrapping the meat completely.
• For extra support, you can position a piece of bacon horizontally on either side of the turkey log before you begin to wrap the log.

Tying the Turkey Roll

• Season the roll with salt and pepper. Put a pinch of salt and pepper along the seam of the bacon to season the underside of the turkey roll. You can add other spices as desired, like sage or rosemary for a more festive turkey roll.
• Tie the roll closed with baker's twine. Slide a piece of baker's twine under the roll and position it under the centre of the roll, tying it to hold the roll in place. Then, tie a piece around either end of the roll, and one around the roll horizontally. This will help to keep the roll intact while it bakes and expands in the oven.

How to make the spice paste

To make the spice paste, you will need:

• Sage leaves
• Rosemary leaves
• Garlic cloves
• Brown sugar
• Black peppercorns
• Salt
• Vegetable oil

Place all the ingredients in a small food processor and process until you have a paste. If you don't have a food processor, you can use a mortar and pestle, or a spice grinder. Transfer the paste to a small bowl and set it aside until you are ready to use it.

The spice paste will be spread on the butterflied turkey breast before rolling and roasting it. The herb paste adds flavour and moisture to the meat, infusing it as it cooks.

How to prep the rolled turkey breast for roasting

Step 1: Prepare the Turkey Breast

If you have purchased a whole turkey breast with the bone still in, you will need to cut the meat away from the bone. Try to keep the meat in one long piece. You can set the bones aside to make a gravy or soup later. If you have purchased a boneless turkey breast, you can skip this step.

Step 2: Slice the Turkey Breast

Place the turkey breast on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice the meat horizontally, creating two long, connected pieces. Be careful not to cut the breast in half, as this will make it more difficult to roll and secure.

Step 3: Flatten the Turkey Breast

Cover the meat with plastic wrap and use a mallet, rolling pin, or the side of a frying pan to flatten the turkey breast to an even thickness of about 1 inch (2.5 cm). Be careful not to flatten the meat too much, as this can cause it to tear when you roll it.

Step 4: Prepare the Stuffing (Optional)

If you are using stuffing, you can prepare it according to the package directions or make your own. You can also add other ingredients such as bacon or herbs to enhance the flavor of the roll.

Step 5: Assemble the Roll

Spoon the stuffing onto the center of the flattened turkey breast, forming it into a log shape. Leave about 2 inches (5 cm) of uncovered turkey above and below the stuffing. Then, lift the bottom part of the turkey and fold it across the top of the stuffing log. Lift and fold the top half of the turkey across the stuffing, creating a roll.

Step 6: Season the Roll

Sprinkle salt and pepper over the surface of the roll. You can also add other spices or herbs, such as sage or rosemary, for extra flavor.

Step 7: Secure the Roll

Use baker's twine to tie the roll closed, placing a piece under the center and then tying each end and one around the middle. This will help keep the roll intact while it cooks.

Your rolled turkey breast is now ready to be roasted! You can follow a recipe or cooking instructions for the best results.

How to roast the turkey roll

Ingredients

• Turkey breast
• Bacon
• Stuffing
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil
• Chicken broth
• Egg
• Onion
• Celery
• Garlic
• Sausage
• Wine
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Butter

Method

• Preheat your oven to 450°F / 230°C.
• Prepare the turkey roll by butterflying the turkey breast and spreading the herb paste over the meat.
• Roll up the turkey breast and wrap it with the skin. Secure it with kitchen twine and place it in the fridge overnight.
• Remove the turkey roll from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 1-2 hours before roasting.
• Place the turkey roll on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the surface with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Put the turkey roll in the oven and roast at 450°F for 10-15 minutes, or until the surface is golden brown.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 275°F / 135°C and continue roasting for 20-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 162°F.
• Remove the turkey roll from the oven, cover with foil, and let it rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips

• For a more festive flavour, add sage or rosemary to the seasoning.
• To prevent the turkey roll from drying out, baste it with pan drippings every 20 minutes during roasting.
• If you want to add some colour to the turkey roll, turn on the broiler setting in your oven to high and broil for a couple of minutes on each side, keeping a close eye on it to avoid burning.

How to serve the turkey roll

Once your turkey roll is cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10-20 minutes. Cover the roll with aluminium foil to keep the bacon from getting too cool.

When you're ready to serve, cut and remove any baker's twine, and use a sharp knife to cut the roll into thick slices. Carefully transfer the slices to a plate to avoid spilling the stuffing.

You can serve the turkey roll with homemade turkey gravy or a festive cranberry sauce. If you're serving for Thanksgiving, you might want to pair the turkey roll with some traditional side dishes, such as:

• Pear, sage and sausage stuffing
• Maple roasted brussels sprouts
• Cheddar corn biscuits
• Roasted delicata squash
• Crispy cheese jalapeno bacon bites
• Creamy cajun chicken pasta

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Frequently asked questions