Agave-Glazed Turkey Breast with Sherry Gravy | view more Recipe

Agave-Glazed Turkey Breast with Sherry Gravy

'1 (5- to 6-pound) turkey breast with skin and bones', 'Fine sea salt', 'Freshly ground black pepper', '1 medium onion, sliced', '1 cup water', '3 tablespoons agave nectar', '1/3 cup sherry vinegar', '1 cup dry or medium-dry sherry', '3 cups brown turkey stock, chicken stock, or reduced-sodium broth', '1/2 cup water', '1/3 cup all-purpose flour', '1 to 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar', 'Salt', 'Freshly ground black pepper', 'A roasting pan fitted with a V-shaped rack; an instant-read thermometer'

Pat turkey breast dry and rub all over with 2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. If you have the time, chill the breast in a baking dish, covered, overnight (see Cooks' Notes). Let turkey stand at room temperature 1 hour. Heat oven to 425°F with rack in lower third. Position turkey on rack in pan and roast 30 minutes. Reduce oven to 400°F and scatter onion slices in bottom of roasting pan. Add 1 cup water and continue to roast until thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast, close to but not touching bone, registers 160°F, 30 to 40 minutes. While turkey is roasting, stir together agave nectar and vinegar in a small nonreactive saucepan and boil, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced to 3 tablespoons. Remove from heat, but keep warm. Brush glaze on turkey and roast until thermometer registers 165°F, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer turkey breast to a platter and let stand 15 minutes. While turkey is standing, remove the rack, scraping off any yummy bits into the pan. Straddle pan over 2 burners and add sherry, then deglaze pan by boiling sherry, stirring and scraping up browned bits, for 1 minute. Strain liquid through a sieve into a heavy medium saucepan. Add stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and keep at a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk 1/2 cup water slowly into flour in a small bowl until flour slurry is smooth, then whisk in 1 tablespoon vinegar. Add flour slurry to simmering stock, whisking, and bring gravy to a boil, whisking. Reduce heat and simmer, whisking, 3 minutes. Season gravy with salt and pepper and additional vinegar, if desired. Slice turkey breast and serve with gravy.