Enjoy holiday feasts with this turkey breast with cherries and cranberries low histamine sauce. 

Bringing low histamine recipes like these to a gathering means you’re sure to have something to eat. And will leave feeling full and satisfied.  

Making a turkey sounds like a lot of work. But using a pressure cooker means you can cook this turkey breast from its frozen state. That makes this recipe easy and keeps histamine levels to a minimum.  

A simple herb rub takes about five minutes to prep. The cherry and cranberry sauce also takes only about five minutes to prep, and a couple of minutes to heat up. 

The turkey breast will cook in about an hour, and that’s all inactive time. 

Holiday cooking just got a little easier! 

This turkey breast with cherry and cranberries low histamine sauce is:  

• Low histamine
• Low oxalate
• Low lectin
• Dairy free
• Gluten free

Keep reading to learn more about: 

• Where to get low histamine turkey breasts (plus coupon code)
• Benefits of cranberries and cherries
• Supplements for extra histamine support during the holidays (or any time)
• Tips for making this recipe

Before you change your diet on your own, please make sure you’re working with a healthcare practitioner who can help you with this. Never limit foods unnecessarily, and always have a licensed medical provider who is supervising your case. 

Where to Source Turkey for the Recipe, Turkey Breast with Cherries and Cranberries Low Histamine Sauce 

If you’ve been following us, you know that Northstar Bison is one of our favorite suppliers for low histamine meat. 

Northstar Bison has had independent testing conducted for histamine levels.  

Most of their meats are low histamine. They do have some options that aren’t, such as aged meats, smoked meats, and processed meats (like sausages).

Smoked, aged, and processed meats in general are higher histamine wherever you source them from. 

But Northstar makes choosing low histamine options super easy with their dedicated drop-down menu just for low histamine meats. You can access that here: Northstar Bison – Low Histamine Meats

That’s one reason we love shopping with them. 

You can also reach out to them if you have any questions! They have a fantastic customer support team who understand histamine and meat.

Why else has Northstar remained one of our favorites over the years? 

Look at the turkey for example. 

The turkey from Northstar Bison is: 

• Hormone and antibiotic free
• Pasture raised
• Regeneratively raised
• Preservative free
• Soy-free
• Corn-free
• Non-GMO
• Frozen soon after processing (minimizing bacteria growth)

That last point is especially important if you have Histamine Intolerance. 

Fresh Vs Frozen 

Certain bacterial strains found in foods are histamine-producing.

An increase in these bacteria means an increase in histamine content. 

These bacteria continue to grow even in “fresh” meats. “Fresh” can be a misleading term. Often it simply refers to meat that’s never been frozen.  

But if you’re calculating freshness based on bacteria content, frozen is often fresher!  

Freezing doesn’t kill these bacteria. But it does slow down their reproduction significantly. That means lower histamine content overall.  

On another similar note, heat doesn’t kill these bacteria either, but cooking can inactivate these histamine-releasing bacteria.  

Learn more about choosing low histamine protein in Are You Raising Your Histamine Levels with These Meat Handling Mistakes? 

Part of what makes Northstar special is that they harvest seasonally and regeneratively. You can learn more about this on their website.  

However, this means that they can sell out of items since there is a limited supply. 

Order early to be sure to get your seasonal meats! 

>>> Click here to shop Northstar Bison and save 10% with code MASTCELL360

The turkey is the centerpiece of the table. But what’s turkey without sauce? 

Benefits of Cherries and Cranberries 

Gravy is the standard sauce to put over turkey, especially white meat, like breasts.  

White meat can be a little drier than dark meat. Gravy adds moisture and flavor. 

A simple gravy typically consists of fat, flour, and liquid. Often, turkey gravy is made from turkey drippings combined with flour and broth. 

In this recipe, cooking the turkey breast in a pressure cooker with broth meant no drippings for gravy. 

You could use grass-fed butter or ghee (if tolerated) as your fat. And you could use cassava flour, since it is gluten-free along with low histamine broth. 

But you might also consider an alternative like this cherries and cranberries sauce. 

It tastes great and provides nutritional benefits. 

Cherries and cranberries are both great sources of vitamin C. 

Vitamin C benefits include: 

• Antioxidant properties
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Supports a healthy immune system

Vitamin C also supports dao (diamine oxidase) production. DAO is one of the enzymes your body makes that breaks down histamine. 

Both fruits are also a good source of fiber, which helps support gut health.  

Recipes like these can help you navigate the holidays and family gatherings throughout the year by incorporating tasty, low histamine foods into your low histamine diet. 

But we know that the holidays and gatherings can be full of high histamine food temptations. 

You don’t think much of a bite or nibble here and there… 

But it adds up. Think about our “histamine sink” analogy. Then keep reading to learn more about some supplements that can help give you extra histamine support. 

The Histamine “Sink” 

If you have Histamine Intolerance, think of it as a sink with a clogged drain. 

One or two drops of water in that sink isn’t going to create a huge problem.

But if you leave the faucet on? Water accumulates leading to your sink overflowing because it can’t drain as fast as the water is coming in. 

That’s like your histamine levels. That one nibble of a high histamine food likely won’t make a difference. But all those little nibbles combined add up. 

When planning for the holidays, thinking ahead can make a big difference. Make sure you have low histamine foods to eat so you can make good choices for your health.  

But like we said, let’s be realistic. It can help to plan a little extra support for the times when we step outside our usual low histamine choices.

Here’s what to consider. 

Need Extra Histamine Support During the Holidays? 

It’s important you know that this blog post is for informational and educational purposes. It’s not meant to treat any health condition or to be prescriptive for anyone.  If you have any medical condition, it is critical you work under the care and guidance of a licensed medical provider. 

No one wants to deal with uncomfortable symptoms of Histamine Intolerance like:  

• Gut symptoms akin to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• Skin symptoms like redness and itching
• Respiratory issues like runny nose or congestion
• Headaches and brain fog

As you lower your histamine levels, Histamine Intolerance-related symptoms typically get better. 

And we know from experience that feeling better is a great motivation to keep going! 

But we also know from experience that sometimes chocolate covered strawberries or other indulgences are too tempting! 

That’s where supplements can provide extra support.  

It’s important to remember, though, supplements aren’t magic wands.  

For example, taking DAO (diamine oxidase, histamine degrading enzyme) doesn’t mean you can eat a full course of high histamine foods without reactions.  

But it can help take the edge off when you eat that chocolate-covered strawberry or a couple of bites of green bean casserole. 

Talk to your provider to see if supplements like DAO (diamine oxidase) may help you. 

Dao is a histamine degrading enzyme your body makes. But with Histamine Intolerance, you may not be making enough. 

Stomach acid support, digestive enzymes, and short-chain-fatty-acids (SCFAs) can help support your gut health. These can be especially helpful if you have gut-related symptoms from Histamine Intolerance or SIBO. 

Consider working with a dietitian or nutritionist, too. 

They can help you set up meal plans and guide you on low histamine foods vs high histamine foods.

You can incorporate some of our low histamine recipes into your meal plans, too. 😀  

You can print out our low histamine foods list to share with your nutritionist or use for shopping. It’s a great reference tool to get started! 

Tips for Making Turkey Breast with Cherries and Cranberries Low Histamine Sauce 

This recipe is really easy to put together. 

But here are a couple tips to make it even easier to follow the instructions. 

First let’s look at the pressure cooker for the turkey breast. 

Pressure Cooker Tips 

You’re going to cook this turkey breast from frozen, so pre-sets on your pressure cooker may not yield the results you need. 

For example, cooking a thawed turkey takes about 10 minutes per pound in an Instant pot. 

Our cooking time from frozen in the Instant Pot was almost double that. We first tried this for 30 minutes, and it was still frozen in the middle.

We cooked our frozen 3-pound turkey breast for 55 minutes. Your pot may require more or less time. It’s better to set it for a little less time and then add time later as needed. 

So, use the manual settings for high pressure and cook time. 

When you release the pressure, you usually have 2 options, the quick release and the natural release. The natural release takes longer, about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the machine. 

We did a quick release which took less than 5 minutes. All this required was unplugging the machine and flipping the release valve to open. 

Prepping the Turkey  

When we researched how to cook a frozen turkey breast in a pressure cooker, instructions said use a trivet. This metal rack elevates the turkey above the broth. 

Our trivet had a rod right down the middle, so it didn’t accommodate the turkey! 

Onion and Apple “Trivet” 

To improvise, we made an elevated surface with our aromatics, the onion and apple. 

These ingredients aren’t meant to be eaten, only to infuse flavor into the meat. 

We chopped one onion and one green apple into large chunks and placed those into the broth in the pot. Then we placed the turkey breast on top of that layer. 

The onion and apple will turn to mush as the turkey cooks, and your turkey will end up directly in the broth. But it will be elevated for a good portion of the time. 

It turns out to be delicious and moist. 

If your metal trivet doesn’t have a rod that gets in the way, you can use it. Place the broth in the pot and then add the trivet. Then add your turkey breast surrounded by apples and onions. 

Next, here’s more on the turkey herb rub. 

Herb Rub 

We recommend making the rub into a paste consistency in the blender. But don’t be too concerned if it’s super smooth or a little chunky.  

Cover most of the top of the turkey breast with the rub to infuse flavor into the meat. 

You’ll scrape most of the rub off before serving. 

Prefer chicken? Check out the Low Histamine Chicken Recipe. 

Next, here’s what to expect with the cherry and cranberry sauce. 

Cherries and Cranberries Low Histamine Sauce 

When you think cranberry sauce, you might think of that wiggly, jiggly stuff in a can. 

Or maybe you’ve had cranberry chutney. 

Both of those choices may pose issues for the low histamine diet. 

Canned foods are typically higher histamine than fresh or frozen. That’s the first issue. 

Further, canned cranberry sauce may contain sugars like corn syrup which can spike your blood sugar. This can lead to a spike in histamine in your body. 

And some canned goods have additives and preservatives or spices which may not be low histamine.  

Chutney, whether store-bought or homemade, is usually made with vinegar, which is high histamine. 

You also run into the possibility of high histamine spices and citrus fruits like oranges. 

Some people tolerate a small amount of citrus, but not everyone does. Citrus can be a histamine liberator. That means it isn’t necessarily high histamine, but it does cause histamine release in the body. 

This cherries and cranberries sauce is made will all low histamine ingredients. The natural sweetness of cherries means you don’t need sugar. 

And you still get the tartness of the cranberries, which can be a refreshing palette cleanser. 

This sauce isn’t jelly like canned stuff. Nor is it chunky like a chutney might be. 

It’s more of a thick, pouring sauce. You can use it over your turkey or even roast vegetables! 

This sauce recipe can be modified easily with any sweet fruit alongside cranberries. 

Variations of the Sauce 

We made this sauce with cherries. They’re easy to find year-round in the freezer section.  

We preferred frozen cherries for this since it cut back on the workload. No stemming or pitting! 

But as we made it, we realized this recipe could work with other fruits as well. (New recipes are already in the works!) 

For example, apricots, blueberries, and sweet apples would work, though the color would be slightly different.  

Just choose something that has sweetness to balance the tartness of the cranberries. 

And be sure to use fresh or frozen fruits, not dried fruits. Dried fruits have higher histamine content. 

Check out our Low Histamine Foods List to see low histamine foods you can choose from!  

Lastly, we want to take a moment to wish you all the best during this feasting season!  

Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful to have you here with us! 

What to Serve with Turkey Breast with Cherries and Cranberries Low Histamine Sauce 

• Low Histamine Sorghum Stuffing – Low Lectin, Medium Oxalate, Low FODMAP
• Creamed Kale Recipe – Low Histamine, Low Oxalate, Low Lectin
• Roasted Cauliflower with Cherries and Pecans Recipe – Low Histamine, Low Lectin, Low Oxalate to Medium Oxalate, with Low Salicylate option

What holiday favorites like turkey breast with cherries and cranberries low histamine sauce would you like to see in future recipes? 

More Low Histamine Poultry Recipes 

• Chicken Marinade Skewers – Medium Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP
• Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Low Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP
• Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipe – Low Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP, Low Salicylate

The website provides approximate nutrition information. Users should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities they use in their recipes for the most accurate representation.  

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References 

Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and immune function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9111211 

Chung, B. Y., et al. (2017). Effect of different cooking methods on histamine levels in selected foods. Annals of Dermatology, 29(6), 706. https://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2017.29.6.706 

Ellulu, M. S., et al. (2015). Effect of vitamin C on inflammation and metabolic markers in hypertensive and/or diabetic obese adults: a randomized controlled trial. Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 9, 3405–3412. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S83144 

Fu, J., Zheng, Y., Gao, Y., & Xu, W. (2022). Dietary fiber intake and gut microbiota in human health. Microorganisms, 10(12), 2507. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10122507 

HappyForks. (n.d.). Recipe analyzer. https://happyforks.com/analyzer 

Johnston, C. S., Martin, L. J., & Cai, X. (1992). Antihistamine effect of supplemental ascorbic acid and neutrophil chemotaxis. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 11(2), 172–176. 

Kelley, D. S., Adkins, Y., & Laugero, K. D. (2018). A review of the health benefits of cherries. Nutrients, 10(3), 368. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10030368  

SIGHI. (2021). SIGHI-Leaflet Histamine Elimination Diet. https://www.histaminintoleranz.ch/downloads/SIGHI-Leaflet_HistamineEliminationDiet.pdf 

Williams, G., Hahn, D., Stephens, J. H., Craig, J. C., & Hodson, E. M. (2023). Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 4(4), CD001321. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub6 face