
Toasted Lemon Turkey with Cauliflower-Caper Cream, Crispy Smashed Potatoes, and Sautéed Asparagus
An original full dinner featuring seared turkey medallions, a silky cauliflower-caper lemon sauce, crispy oven-smashed baby potatoes, and garlic-sautéed asparagus. Balanced, comforting, and elegant for any night of the week.
Ingredients
- 600 g turkey breast medallions (cut en pieces gruesas and uniformes)
- 700 g baby potatoes (lavadas)
- 500 g cauliflower (en floretes small)
- 300 g green asparagus (without the parte dura)
- 240 ml chicken or vegetable broth (for the cream)
- 80 ml heavy cream
- 30 g capers (escurridas)
- 1 unit lemon (45 ml de zumo)
- 3 cloves garlic (2 chopped and 1 whole)
- 60 ml olive oil (divided)
- 20 g butter
- 4 g sweet paprika
- 2 g dried thyme
- 10 g fresh parsley (chopped)
- 8 g salt (or to taste)
- 3 g black pepper (or to taste)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 220°C / 425°F. Place the baby potatoes in a pot with water and a pinch of salt, bring to a boil, and cook for 12-15 minutes until tender.
- 2
Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a baking tray. Smash each potato with the bottom of a glass. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil, then sprinkle with half of the sweet paprika, half of the dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Roast for 20-25 minutes at 220°C / 425°F until golden and crisp.
- 3
Meanwhile, steam or boil the cauliflower with the whole garlic clove for 10-12 minutes, until very tender. Drain and reserve 120 ml / 1/2 cup of the cooking water if you did not use broth.
- 4
Add the cooked cauliflower and whole garlic clove to a blender with the chicken or vegetable broth, heavy cream, butter, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice, half of the lemon zest, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Blend until very smooth. Add the capers and pulse only 2 or 3 times so some small pieces remain. Keep warm over very low heat.
- 5
Pat the turkey medallions dry with paper towels and season with salt, black pepper, and the remaining sweet paprika. Heat 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 6
Sear the turkey for 3-4 minutes per side, until deeply golden outside and cooked through inside. Add 1 minced garlic clove, the remaining lemon juice, and a small splash of water, stirring for 30 seconds to lift the browned bits from the pan. Remove from the heat and let rest for 3 minutes.
- 7
In another skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the asparagus with the remaining minced garlic for 4-5 minutes, until tender but still vibrant. Season with salt, black pepper, and the remaining dried thyme.
- 8
To serve, spread a layer of cauliflower-caper cream on each plate. Top with the turkey medallions, then add the crispy smashed potatoes and sautéed asparagus. Finish with fresh parsley and the remaining lemon zest.
Chef tips
For a lighter sauce, replace part of the cream with extra broth. Dry the potatoes well before roasting for crispier edges.
Substitutions
You can use chicken breast instead of turkey. Asparagus can be swapped for green beans. If you do not have capers, use chopped green olives, keeping in mind the flavor profile will change.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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