Harts of Stur Kitchen Issue 08, Winter 2018-19 | Page 17

Menu a la Harts Turkey Saltimbocca by Darren Purchese T ake a break from tradition and do something different this year. Better than a boring old roast, this is a lot easier to get right as well. Get the prep done ahead of time and your guests will be impressed with the no-stress lunch, cooked and on the table in no time. Market tips Free-range heritage-breed turkeys will taste so much better than something from the supermarket, so go and see your poultry expert at the market. Ask your butcher to slice super thin pieces of pancetta for you as well. Christmas timeline Serves 4 Ingredients 1 x 1.5 kg (3 lb 5 oz) turkey breast fillet Freshly ground black pepper 16 fresh sage leaves 12 large, thin, round slices mild pancetta 125 ml (4 fl oz/½ cup) light olive oil 4 French shallots, thinly sliced Pinch of salt flakes 150 ml (5 fl oz) dry white wine 185 ml (6 fl oz/¾ cup) chicken stock ¼ lemon 60 g (2 oz) unsalted butter, chilled and diced About Darren Purchese Brit Darren worked in some of London’s most exclusive hotels including the Savoy before finding fame in Australia with his Sweet Studio cake shop in Melbourne. He regularly judges on Masterchef Australia and popped up on Neighbours in 2015! Prep the turkey and wrap it in pancetta on Christmas Eve. Leave it in the fridge overnight, then remove 30 minutes before cooking. Make the sauce after you cook the bird, then pour yourself a glass of wine and bask in the glory of nailing a turkey lunch. Simples! Extracted from Chefs Host Christmas Too by Darren Purchese (Hardie Grant, £12.99) Photography © Ari Hatzis CHRISTMAS KIT Knives Method 1. Trim the turkey breast and cut it into twelve equal-sized pieces. Cover each piece with a piece of plastic wrap and flatten it by pounding with a meat mallet or rolling pin. 2. Season each piece with pepper only (no salt at this point), and then place a sage leaf on top of each one. Reserve the remaining four leaves for the sauce. Wrap a slice of pancetta around each piece of turkey, covering the sage and holding it in place. 3. Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Line a baking tray with baking paper. 4. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large frying pan over medium- high heat. Add four pieces of saltimbocca to the pan, placing them sage side down. Cook for 4 minutes before turning them over and cooking for a further 4 minutes. Transfer to the prepared tray. 5. Cook the remaining turkey pieces, four at a time – you don’t need to clean the pan between each batch. Transfer the tray and turkey pieces into the warm oven, then turn the oven off. 6. To make the sauce, heat the remaining oil in the pan over low heat. Add the shallots, a few grinds of pepper and a pinch of salt and gently sauté the shallots for 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and deglaze the pan with the wine, scraping the base of the pan to incorporate any bits stuck on the bottom. Cook until the wine has reduced by half, then add the stock and again reduce this by half. 7. Squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice and add the remaining sage leaves. Bring to the boil, then whisk in the butter, a cube at a time, until you have a smooth and shiny sauce. 8. Arrange the turkey pieces on a platter or divide among individual plates and serve with the sauce. 17 www.hartsofstur.com “You’ll need different knives for different jobs. It is well worth investing in and maintaining a set of knives. Carving, chopping, slicing and small paring jobs all need a different knife. Keep them sharp and your food will always look professionally done.” Darren Purchese Furi Pro Carving 2 Piece Set RRP: £69.95 Harts Price: £34.94