Hands up who has thrown away leftover turkey meat after Christmas Day dinner? Well you’re not alone as we’ve all been guilty of throwing it away rather than making use of it. The key to making to most of your turkey meat is to prepare in advance how you can use it on those days after the 25th of December.
Here are a few of our favourite ways to make the most of your Christmas turkey:
Boxing Day Sandwich
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best, and it goes without saying that leftover turkey makes for an amazing Christmas sarnie. Slice up some of the cold meat and layer it on your favourite bread with stuffing, cranberry sauce and even some gravy if you have some, et voila!
Turkey Casserole or Soup
Chances are you will have lots of root veg leftover too such as parsnips, carrots and potatoes, so why not use these together with the turkey to make a warming soup or casserole. If you have time, you can even boil the turkey bones to make an authentic stock!
Turkey and Cranberry Parcels
Turkey and Cranberry Parcels are a brilliant option if you’re entertaining in the days after Christmas. We can’t wait to try this recipe courtesy of The Cooking Academy:
- Preheat the oven to 180ºc / 170ºc / gas mark 4 and lightly grease and line two baking trays with baking paper.
- In a large bowl, combine chunks of turkey with cranberry sauce, remembering to season with salt and pepper.
- Divide the turkey mixture evenly into four separate bowls.
- You will then need to layer four sheets of filo pastry, lightly brushing each sheet with melted butter as you go. Then cut into six even squares.
- Using just one quarter of the turkey mixture, spoon this evenly into the centre of the six filo squares. Top each square with some brie for extra wow factor! Then pinch together the sides of the pastry to create a parcel.
- Complete steps 4 and 5 with another four sheets of filo pastry and ¼ of turkey mixture. Repeat until all the ingredients have been used.
- Arrange on a tray and brush lightly with extra butter.
- Place the parcels in the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and crispy.
Freeze it
If all else fails and you don’t manage to use the leftover meat within the days after Christmas, put it away in the freezer for a later date. Ensure the turkey is wrapped properly and it will last for up to two to six months so you can use it for meals at a later date. Make sure you label it with the date of freezing for safety and don’t reheat it more than once.
Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter @UKMums.TV if you try any of these turkey leftover solutions.