turkey roulade

You may find this hard to believe, but my real Thanksgiving dinner — not the dry test runs that I prepare beforehand in my kitchen as a food editor, but the one I sit down to on Nov. 24 with my family — is incredibly humble. It's usually just the four of us, sitting around a table, eating a turkey and a few understated (but no less satisfying) sides. That's the Thanksgiving I grew up with, and it continues to be my family's holiday cooking style today: no fuss, no muss, and absolutely no pretensions.

I'm not deviating from the family tradition, so this year I'll be preparing an easy turkey roulade. Butterflied turkey breast is spread with a quick and dirty vegetable filling of shiitake mushrooms, artichokes, and onions, then it's rolled up, wrapped in prosciutto, baked until succulent and sliced into individual turkey pinwheels. It's hard to believe that all those elements take 15 minutes to prepare and just 90 minutes to cook, but it's true! Read ahead for an simple, speedy turkey breast recipe that's also elegant.

Don't have the time or patience to cook an entire turkey? Then consider making a boneless turkey breast. It roasts for about an hour and can be filled with your favorite stuffing recipe. When the breast and stuffing are rolled together and tied, it even has a fancy sounding name that will impress your guests: turkey roulade. You'll need kitchen twine to hold the whole thing together, so don't forget to pick some up at the store. The key is to watch it carefully to ensure that it doesn't overcook. When a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast says 165°F, it's done. To check out the excellent recipe I made over the weekend at a pre-Thanksgiving dinner, read more

This Thanksgiving, surprise guests by offering a main dish that's a slight departure from the typical turkey roast: a turkey roulade. In case you aren't familiar with the term, it merely refers to any kind of meat that's been rolled around a filling and then cooked. The result? A platter that looks more elaborate and grand than any run-of-the-mill roasted turkey.

Ironically, despite the dish's opulent appearance, a roulade is rather simple, and can make for an ideal entree at a beginner's Thanksgiving. Lean on gourmet canned vegetables, like marinated artichokes and mushrooms, to create the filling for your rolled turkey. Or, if you're up to the challenge, make a traditional roulade that's served with from-scratch stuffing and a cider gravy. Does either interest you? Then read more.