Recycling turkey leftovers
Recycling turkey leftovers into other delicious dishes only requires a bit of imagination.
After a recipe for a traditional roasted turkey, let's talk about turkey leftovers; because we don’t like to waste anything and we don’t want to eat more of the same either.
What to do whit the rest of that large turkey
Leftovers have a place in family menus; I have no doubt you are aware of it, but are you aware that there are three kinds of leftovers?
Planned leftovers
There are times when you buy extra food with the intention to make it last for two meals. It is perfectly fine to prepare a large roast on Sunday to serve some cold on Monday.
It is a time-saving trick to buy double amount of stewing meat and dish it up as curry the second time round. A sensible cook would make a cartload of lentil soup and freeze half of it for a quick meal at a later date.
Unplanned leftovers
Someone didn’t come for dinner because of a last minute problem, some other wasn’t hungry, or, you miscalculated and there is some extra food, but not enough for a second meal.
Sometimes you can reheat the food and serve it just to one or two. Not very appealing, unnecessary to say -especially if you have eaten the same the day before- and you will need some imagination to recycle these leftovers into an enticing recipe.
Turkey leftovers
One does not buy extra with the intention to make it last for two meals… well, maybe two meals, but I am sure no one sets out to buy a bird for the purpose of eating turkey - breakfast, lunch and dinner - for the following two weeks, although that it is what may happen in the end.
One does not miscalculate –it is impossible to miscalculate by so much- but traditional festivities require roasting a whole turkey with all the trimmings, and turkeys are large birds.
Truth be told, you would need a good deal of imagination to recycle the leftover turkey. You are only going to need a little because we have put together a collection of ideas and recipes that will make recycling turkey even fun.
General ideas about turkey leftovers
Leftover turkey can have a second lease of life as turkey curry, but what are you going to do the third time and all the others?
Some recipes call for previously cooked meat. You could try blanquette of turkey, turkey chowder o turkey croquettes. On the more fanciful but delicious side, experiment with turkey mousse, chaud-froid or soufflé.
Bolster the turkey meat with some fresh vegetables and a sauce or transform it into a turkey pie.
Chopped or minced, turkey leftover meat can be the base of a great variety of recipes, form a simple minced turkey served with gravy and mashed potatoes to turkey based chili con carne, turkey sloppy Joe over pasta or jacket potatoes, turkey stuffed peppers or zucchini.
Mincing to the quasi pureeing point we could think of turkey and vegetables terrine, turkey quenelles, a turkey mold or a simple potted turkey.
Recycling turkey on the cold and light side
Turkey also makes a wonderful Sunday roasted dinner to serve some cold on Monday but roasted cold turkey can fall on the dry side; recycle turkey meat onto sandwiches or salads. Those are the way to go on the occasions when your appetite is reduced and you are looking forward to a light meal. Consider home made sandwiches or salads as healthy food on the fast lane.
Sliced, minced or shredded leftover turkey meat makes interesting sandwich fillings; there is more to sandwiches than turkey and mayo with some iceberg lettuce and tomato slices. Playing with the many kinds of breads and garnishes available, one could make it at least and avocado and turkey mayo, a turkey roll or turkey pita pockets. Think of a turkey Reuben’s, a turkey club or turkey, cheese and pickles on a sesame bun.
Recycling turkey light and not so cold
Go for a toasted turkey and egg, a toasted turkey and sweet corn sandwiches or a turkey and ham stuffed loaf.
Try making a quick and tasty chowder if there is still turkey to be used after the Holiday Season. Maybe it would be worth to freeze some turkey and be able to prepare this recipe any time.