A Small Christmas Dinner:
Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
and
Sausage Stuffing Loaf
Picture the scene, a long table laden with food, the pride of place going to a glossy, bronzed roast turkey surrounded by discarded paper hats, golden roast potatoes, sprouts, honey roast parsnips and ruby-red spiced cabbage; happy, smiling faces of all ages look on at the feast whilst the harried cook hurries back to the kitchen to bring in jugs of gravy and little bowls of cranberry sauce. There’s carols playing on the radio, the hiss and crackle of a log fire and the fairy lights on the Christmas tree are twinkling in the background…….the dark outside is already stealing over the horizon and it’s taken an army of helpers to get the dinner on the table before the Queen’s speech at 3pm. Family arguments and disasters with toys and no batteries aside, this is probably the scene that will be played out in most family homes this Christmas day.
The reality is that there will be about four million people spending Christmas alone this year, with 10% being over the age of sixty five and the numbers rising for even older people. As well as this rather sad figure of solo diners, a recent report also indicated that there will be a higher number of couples spending Christmas alone, away from their immediate family as children move away from home (usually due to employment) and small communities are eroded – it’s all rather sad and another gloomy reflection of just how much society has changed over the last twenty to thirty years. And, it was after reading this survey that I decided to create a small Christmas dinner recipe for up to four people, or ideally for a couple with leftovers – a simple recipe that looks the part, is festive and tasty but that is suitable for a small Christmas dinner.
Today’s recipe for Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast is easy to cook and, as I always test my recipes, I can report that it was indeed perfect for the just the two of us last Sunday, with ample leftovers for sandwiches, salads and another mini Christmas dinner meal. I used a 900g turkey fillet, (sometimes called a saddle) although a small crown would be suitable too, and I served it with a smaller version of my very festive Christmas Sausage, Sage and Bacon Stuffing Loaf, fresh Brussels sprouts, carrots, streamed potatoes and gravy. With two candles lit for the second Sunday in Advent and with a heavy white frost painting the roofs of the nearby houses and our garden shed, it felt suitably “Christmassy”, especially as I served it with cranberry sauce and on some lovely Penzance plates.
So, if you are spending Christmas at home and there are only two of you this year, then this is the perfect recipe for a very special Christmas dinner – you can freeze any leftovers if you wish, although I always love a post-Christmas dinner sandwich, such as my “leftover legends” The Great Christmas Turkey, Stuffing, Bacon & Cranberry Club Sandwich…….and, leftover turkey is a great excuse to make a turkey curry or a turkey pie. All that you need to complete this Christmas dinner for two, are Christmas crackers, the best linen and crockery and a glass or three of sherry, or whatever tipple takes your fancy. You can also prepare this with chicken breasts, as a meal for one maybe, or for two individual bacon wrapped chicken breasts, again, just serve with seasonal trimmings and a glass of something boozy.
Disclaimer: This is part of my Churchill China UK Blogger and Ambassador series of posts, and I am using The Caravan Trail Penzance patterned plates and salad bowl in my images.
For more of my Churchill China Posts, please visit the link here:
Lavender and Lovage Churchill China Recipes and Posts
Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast
Print recipe
| Serves | 4 people (2 people with leftovers) |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 1 hour |
| Total time | 1 hours, 15 minutes |
| Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Freezable, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Thanksgiving |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 900g to 1 kilo turkey breast, fillet or saddle
- 8 to 12 rashers of streaky smoked bacon
- butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Gravy
- A little cornflour and wine for the gravy
Note
Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast for two people (with leftovers) is the perfect recipe for small festive gatherings, an informal family Sunday dinner or mid-week meal; this easy to prepare and cook dish still has the "wow" factor and is wonderful for those ubiquitous turkey sandwiches later! 900g to 1 kilo serves 4 people, or two people with plenty of leftovers. Serve this recipe with all the usual trimmings such as my Christmas Sausage, Sage and Bacon Stuffing Loaf. (The turkey joint can be wrapped in bacon and frozen until you need to cook it)
Directions
| Step 1 | Pre-heat oven to 180C/375F/Gas mark 5. Butter a baking tray or dish that will accommodate the turkey breast/fillet/saddle. |
| Step 2 | Season the turkey all over with salt (be aware that the bacon may be salty) and freshly ground black pepper. Rub a generous amount of softened butter all over the joint. |
| Step 3 | Stretch the streaky bacon with the back of a knife - this stops it shrinking during cooking. |
| Step 4 | Wrap the rashers of bacon around the turkey joint, making sure that the ends are tucked underneath. |
| Step 5 | Place the turkey into the prepared tray and add about 100mls of water. Loosely wrap some foil over the tray and cook in the pre-heated oven for 40 minutes per kilo plus 20 minutes - a kilo weight joint will take 1 hour (60 minutes) Unwrap the turkey for the last 15 minutes of cooking to allow the bacon to crisp. |
| Step 6 | Allow to stand for 15 minutes after cooking. |
| Step 7 | Gravy: Drain the juices from the pan/tray and use them to make gravy by adding a little cornflour that has been mixed with water to them; add some water/and or white wine, about 300mls and season to taste. Serve the warm gravy in a jug alongside the turkey. |
| Step 8 | Serve the bacon wrapped turkey in slices alongside stuffing, sprouts, carrots, potatoes and all the usual Christmas dinner trimmings. |
Fiver Feeds says
This seems very easy to make, I’ll have to give it a try!
Karen Burns-Booth says
IT’s also very cheap Fiver Feeds, it only cost me £3:50 for the turkey saddle, which was a bargain!
Dom says
Such an interesting post about how many people will be alone! Normally it’s just me and The Viking and I’d get through this roast alone. Love the bacon wrapped bird!!
Karen Burns-Booth says
I have to admit that I would be fighting Malcolm off this roast too Dom!
Heidi Roberts says
This looks a perfect solution for people not wanting or needing a huge Christmas meal!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Heidi – It was easy to cook and the leftovers were just as delicious too!
Paul says
Without the bacon can I get crackling of the turkey crown
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hi Paul, you will get a crispy skin but not crackling as such! Happy Christmas! Karen
Fiona @ London-Unattached says
We tend to avoid turkey altogether at Christmas. But I rather like it – a very healthy, low calorie, low cholesterol meat, so I’d happily make this any time of the year (and I’m sure Lena would eat any leftovers!)
Karen Burns-Booth says
I often prefer turkey to chicken Fiona, for the all the reasons you mentioned and this was a very thrifty way to cook it too!
Shu says
You’re so right Karen! Everyone makes Christmas out to be a big thing with a dozen family members stuffing their faces and singing sweet songs together, but for the past years, Christmas has been a quiet affair for me because my family isn’t based here and most of my English friends go back to spend the holidays with their family. It’s usually me and a few friends doing a small roast and we often have to worry about cutting down serving sizes. This one is perfect! And the photos are absolutely delicious, as always x
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Shu! I’m so pleased you approve of my post – the sentiments and the recipe too! Merry Christmas to you, Karen
Anne-Marie says
Looks absolutely fantastic. I strongly believe that everything (or ALMOST everything) tastes better wrapped in bacon!
Karen Burns-Booth says
I agree too, everything is better wrapped in bacon Anne-Marie!
Eve says
I’m expecting that my husband and I will be spending Christmas just the two of us this year – the first time I have ever spent Christmas away from my parents or attempted to cook a Christmas dinner – so this looks perfect! I expect you will be getting a lot of hits on this old recipe this year as so many of us will be having a strange lockdown Christmas. Thank you for posting, I’m going to give this a go.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Hello Eve, it might be just the two of us as well, so I’ll be making this again, but we do enjoy it however. I hope you enjoy this small Christmas dinner as much as we have in the past. Karen