Arghhh, no more food!… except let’s just finish those turkey leftovers
Here are our 4 favourite Christmas leftover recipes.
Because who can think about Christmas Day leftovers when we haven’t even got through Christmas Day?!
I get it and I’m with you.
But… it’s also quite nice to have a few basic, easy ideas up your sleeve to whip out on Boxing Day on how to use up any of those leftovers.
No one likes waste.
I’m busy!
I know; you’re busy planning and rushing around buying food and gifts so I’ll keep this snappy.
Ok, leftovers (if any)
The classic turkey curry, right? (see below).
Well, I figured you’d know that one and so have included three more simple alternative ideas.
This means you can put someone else in charge of the Boxing Day leftovers.
Toasties – who doesn’t love a good old quick ‘n easy toasty
Quesadilla’s – a Mexican form of toasty (getting the theme?)
Bubble and Squeak – a British classic and one of our favourites. Add to any of these recipes as a little side
4 favourite Christmas leftover recipes
This is an epic way to finish off the Christmas Day leftovers.
Get messy with this monster toastie.
Turkey Toasties
Ingredients
- 2 slices white boomer bread (or whatever you have hanging about)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp cranberry sauce
- turkey slices
- stuffing leftovers
- 4 slices of brie
- 2 tbsp coleslaw
- slices of pickled beetroot or onion or any sharp tasting condiment to help cut through the richness) Optional
Instructions
- Here's a fantastic tip from Olive magazine on making an epic toastie… Use mayonnaise on the outside of the bread instead of butter. This makes your toasties much crispier and amazing to tuck in to.
- Spread the outside of the bread slices with mayonnaise. Then build you sandwich. Spread the cranberry sauce on the inside of the slice, the turkey, stuffing , brie slices, followed by the beetroot (optional) and coleslaw. Then add the other top bloomer slice.
- In a frying pan, add some oil and get to a medium to high heat.d heat Using a fish slice, gently lift and place your sandwich into the frying pan. Weighing them down with another pan or a lid from a pan, for 2-3 minutes on each side or until really golden and crisp.Keep making as many as you and your family can enjoy!Serve.
The classic Christmas turkey curry
Well, we all love a curry.
And I love this butter turkey curry recipe.
Christmas leftover butter turkey curry
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 onions, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp chopped ginger
- 12 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 x 450g tinned tomatoes
- 450 g cooked turkey, shredded
- 1/2 cup cream, yoghurt, or coconut milk
- 2 tbsp almond butter (or use peanut butter as a subsitute)
- 4 – 8 tbsp brown sugar – taste as you add
- sea salt to taste
Spices
- 2 tbsp garam masala
- 2 tsp ground turmeric
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 – 2 chilli powder (depends how spicy you like your curry)
- 8 cardammon pods, take seeds outs
Instructions
- Over medium-high heat, in a large pot, heat the oil and add the onion. Cook until it's well browned – approx 10 mins. While the onion is cooking, place all the spices into a small bowl and mix.
- Now, add the ginger, garlic, and spices to the pot and cook for 1min. Add the tomatoes and a half cup of water to the pot and scrape the bottom to lift any bits stuck-on. Now, just let the pot simmer, partially covered to reduce splatters, for 15 minutes.
- After 15mins, transfer curry in the pot to a blender and blend on high until smooth then return the curry to the pot. Add the turkey, cream (or yoghurt or coconut milk), almond butter (or peanut butter), and sugar and heat through. Season to taste with sea salt.
Notes
inspired by: The Endless Meal
Turkey quesadillas
This is an absolute winner in our household.
Very simple and super tasty.
Turkey Quesadillas
Ingredients
- 1 red chilli, finely sliced
- 1 spring onion, chopped
- 1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper, sliced
- shredded leftover turkey no measurement as it's your leftovers so divide evenly across the 4 tortillas (or the number of quesadilla's you can make)
- 50 g mozzarella
- 50 g grated cheddar
- 4 flour tortillas
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients into a bowl, season and mix gently.Lay 4 tortillas on your workbench and divide the mix evenly between them but only spreading it over one half of the tortilla. Then, fold over the other half so it looks like a sandwich and press down.
- In a frying pan, add some oil and on a medium to high heat, cook your quesadilla's until golden on both sides (and the cheese has melted).Use a lid from another pan to press down on them while cooking.Serve.
Bubble and squeak
Need I say more.
Who doesn’t love making a good ole bubble and squeak to use up leftovers?
Bubble and Squeak
Ingredients
- roast potatoes, chopped finely
- cooked brussels sprouts, chopped finely
- roast parsnips, chopped finely
- roast carrots, chopped finely
- peas (if no leftovers, then boil a cup or two of frozen)
- pigs in blankets, chopped finely
- 1 1/2 tbsp Branson pickle
- 1 tbsp oil
Instructions
- Note: as you will notice there are no measurements. This is a leftover recipe so it's really just making it up and using as much as you can. The key is to have more potato than other ingredients to help pull it all together as a patty
- Put all your chopped ingredients in a bowl with the pickle and season really well. Mix altogether so the mixture holds together when squeezed (use a masher if it's not combining as well as you'd like).Now, simply make as many patties as your leftovers provide.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan, fry on each side until crisp and golden – approx 2 mins each side.Serve on it's own as a snack or as a side.
Wait!
Want another fab leftover recipe?
Try turkey (or chicken), cranberry and brie filo pies.
Hoping you have a restful (yeah, right) and happy Christmas with your loved ones.
