Wood-Fired Turkey Breasts with Ginger-Jalapeño-Cranberry Sauce
A turkey breast (or two) is the perfect way to prepare a traditional turkey dinner for a smaller holiday gathering… but once you try this moist, tender, flavour packed turkey with subtle notes of smokiness, paired with the bold, bright, refreshing flavours of the ginger-jalapeno-cranberry sauce, you will not be waiting for a special occasion to make it again!
This preparation is perfect for a Sunday dinner with leftovers for weekday lunches OR the ultimate “gameday” sandwiches when the gang gathers to cheer on the home team!
While the turkey rests, I suggest charring carrots & broccolini in the turkey drippings on the grizzler plate, completely optional, but why waste a hot oven and the turkey drippings?
Disclosure: I have participated in a paid partnership with Ooni. Opinions in this post are my own.
Wood-Fired Turkey Breasts with Ginger-Jalapeño-Cranberry Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 split turkey breasts bone in, skin on, approximately 1 lb 12 oz for each breast (3 ½ pounds total)
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Cranberry Sauce
- 2 large jalapeños charred, seeds removed, and finely diced
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoons sage finely chopped
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 12-ounce package fresh or frozen cranberries (3 cups)
Butter Mixture
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage.
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Serving Suggestions
- Charred carrots and broccolini
- Soft dinner rolls
- Warm gravy homemade or your favourite store bought
Instructions
- Remove turkey breasts from packaging, pat dry with a paper towel, season with salt and pepper, place breasts skin side up on a rack over a sheet pan and refrigerate uncovered while you make the cranberry sauce and butter mixture.
- Preheat the Ooni Karu 16 oven to 450°F (I use a combination of lump charcoal & hardwood to maintain the heat and add layers of flavour).
- While the charcoal heats up, place the jalapeños directly on the burning wood/charcoal and char the jalapeños completely. Remove jalapeños, place in a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a plate. Let steam for about 5 minutes. Using a paper towel wipe off charred skin, slice in half, remove seeds and finely dice.
- To prepare the cranberry sauce add the sugar, jalapeños, white balsamic vinegar, salt, and sage in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, stir to combine. Add water, then stir with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved, reduce heat to low and simmer 2 minutes.
- Add ginger and cranberries, increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium and boil gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until cranberries have softened.
- Spoon sauce into a bowl(s), cover and cool at room temperature. Refrigerate until serving time. Makes 2 cups
- Place butter, sage, rosemary, 1 teaspoon each salt & pepper in a small bowl, stir to blend.
- Using your fingers, gently separate turkey skin from flesh. Pour 1/3 of butter mixture underneath the skin of each breast and massage in the butter. Pour half the remaining mixture over the skin of each breast and gently rub it all over. Set aside at room temperature.
- When the oven has reached 450°F, place the Ooni Dual-Sided Grizzler Plate in the oven, ridge side up, and heat for 5 minutes.
- Open the rear fuel hatch and the glass door and let the oven cool down to about 425°F. Place the turkey breasts on the grizzler plate, as close to the front of the pan as possible and insert into the oven. Close the glass door but leave the fuel hatch open. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, rotating each breast front to back once.
- When the temperature drops to around 350°F, close the fuel hatch and cook until the internal temperature reaches 158-160°F. Approximately 50 – 60 minutes longer.
- Add fuel as required to maintain a temperature near 350°F. If the oven gets too hot, open the fuel hatch and glass door to control temperature.
- If the skin is browning too much cover with foil.
- When internal temperature is reached, remove breasts to a platter or tray, cover with foil and place a towel over the foil. Let rest 15-20 minutes before carving (internal temperature will rise to 165°F, while the breasts rest.)
- While the turkey rests, I suggest charring carrots & broccolini in the turkey drippings on the grizzler plate (completely optional, but why waste a hot oven and the turkey drippings?)
- Add fuel to begin bringing the oven back up to 425°F. Place thin carrots (or sliced carrots) on grizzler pan, season with salt, pepper, plus a splash of olive oil, and cook for 15 minutes, until lightly charred and slightly softened (note, the carrots will still have a bit of a bite, they are charred, not roasted). Remove carrots to a plate and cover tightly with foil to keep warm. Add the broccolini (cutting any thick pieces in to thinner strips) to the grizzler plate, season with salt, pepper, plus a splash of olive oil and place if the oven. Add another piece of wood and char the broccolini for 5 minutes turning once. Remove broccolini to a plate and cover tightly with foil to keep warm while you carve the turkey.
- Serve sliced turkey breast with ginger-jalapeño-cranberry sauce and enjoy!
Hope you enjoy this recipe! We would love to hear from you, please leave us your feedback in the comment box below.
Have a delicious day! James (aka Zimmy) & Elaine
For this Wood-Fired Turkey Breasts with Ginger-Jalapeño-Cranberry Sauce recipe, I used the Ooni Dual Sided Grizzler Plate, and my Ooni Karu 16 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven.
Proud Onni Ambassador. Opinions in this post are my own.