Salted Roast Turkey Breast with Honey Chipotle Glaze

The big day is a week away!  But remember, we are celebrating Thanksgiving on a smaller scale over here-so there shouldn't be any panic.  Right?  The greatest thing about preparing for a small crowd is that you don't have to prepare that huge bird.  Don't worry, we won't skip out on turkey, just the whole turkey, because we are only using boneless skinless turkey breasts for the small feast.

We are turkey eaters in this house, so by the time Thanksgiving has rolled around turkey is not too exciting for us.  Salted Turkey Breast with Chipotle Honey Glaze is one of our favorites and you can find us roasting it during the winter months or grilling it during the summer months.  It is our go-to turkey recipe in our repertoire.

Salting the bird not only seasons it but it retains moisture resulting in a tender and juicy bird.  The flavors of this turkey dish is well rounded-smokiness from the salt, cumin, smoked paprika; spiciness from the chipotle; and sweetened by a lacquering of honey.

If you don't make this for your Thanksgiving meal, revisit this recipe and make it at any moment during the year.  You won't regret it.

Salted Roast Turkey Breast with Honey Chipotle Glaze
serves 6
Ingredients
Southwestern Spiced Salt (recipe below)
2 (1 1/2 pound) boneless, skinless turkey breast halves
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1/3 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder

Southwestern Spiced Salt
can be made 1 week ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature
1 oz smoked salt
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon chipotle powder

1. Mix ingredients together in a small bowl 

Turkey

1. Rub spiced salt over turkey breast halves on both sides and place in a plastic gallon sized bag or baking dish.  Refrigerate for 24 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
3. Remove turkey from refrigerator.  Rinse turkey and pat dry.  Rub butter over the turkey breasts and place on a foiled lined baking sheet fitted with a rack.  Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, meanwhile, mix honey and chipotle powder in a small bowl.  Brush half of the honey mixture and pan juices over turkey halfway through cooking time.  Remove from oven when juices are running clear or until thermometer registers 160 degrees F.
4. Turn on the broiler.  Brush the remaining honey glaze over turkey and broil until honey thickens and turns golden.
5. Remove from the oven, brushing pan juices over the bird.  Rest for 10 minutes.