The family that has just had a full holiday meal complete with stuffing, green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy, may not want to repeat such heavy eating over the course of the days following Thanksgiving. Here are some alternative ways to use an abundance of roasted turkey that make leftovers something to look forward to.
Turkey Cobb Salad
Ingredients:
- 4 cups green leaf lettuce, chopped
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 3 cups cooked turkey, chopped
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
- 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
- 6 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
- Roquefort or blue cheese dressing to coat
Directions: In a large bowl, toss romaine and green leaf lettuce together. Arrange the following ingredients in vertical rows covering the top of the lettuce: chopped hard boiled eggs, chopped turkey, chopped tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, crumbled bacon and chopped avocado. Serve with Roquefort or blue cheese dressing.
Turkey, Cranberry & Cream Cheese Sandwiches
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf of crusty bread, such as French or Ciabatta
- 8 to 10 thick slices of cooked turkey meat
- 1/2 cup canned cranberry sauce or cranberry jam
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/3 cup green spinach leaves, uncooked
Directions: Slice the loaf of bread open and spread the inside of the top side with the cranberry jam. Spread the inside of the bottom side with the cream cheese. Layer the turkey over the cream cheese evenly, and top evenly with the spinach leaves. Place the top layer of bread over the spinach leaves, and slice into desired sandwich sizes.
Curried Turkey Salad
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked turkey, chopped
- 1/2 cup pecan halves
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups red grapes, halved
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped red apple
- 2 egg yolks
- 4 basil leaves
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup mango chutney
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh ginger, chopped
Directions: In a large bowl, mix together turkey, pecans, celery, grapes, apple and green onion. In a food processor or blender, add the egg yolks, basil, lemon juice, garlic, curry powder, salt and ginger and pulse until blended. Add the vegetable oil 1/4 cup at a time until mixture is emulsified. Stir in heavy cream and mango chutney until well blended. Pour this mixture over the turkey salad and mix well. Serve this salad over lettuce or use as sandwich filling.
Traditional Leftovers
If you are looking for some recipes for leftover turkey that are a little more traditional, Roast Turkey Vegetable Soup with Rice or the hearty style of a Turkey Pot Pie are two excellent choices. If planning to make the turkey soup, make sure to keep the turkey carcass as it is the key ingredient in this recipe.
