Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Daniela Apostol · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Leftover Turkey Curry, a delicious meal ready in about 30 minutes. A quick and easy recipe that will help you use up leftover turkey that could otherwise go to waste. It's a mild curry that makes it perfect for a family dinner recipe.

Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (1)

I admit it, I am guilty, I have done it times and times again! Throwing away leftovers happens way too often, more often than I would like. Which is a shame, leftover food can be successfully recycled into fantastic dishes, as easy or as fancy as one wishes.

And if the Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey feast resulted in the unavoidable leftovers, what a better idea than a good old curry recipe to use up any leftover turkey. British people definitely love a good curry, there is no doubt about that. And it's not surprising that curry is actually considered a national dish, regardless of its Asian origins.

From butter chicken,tochicken tikka masala or a good chicken and coconut curry, my taste buds do know how to appreciate a delicious curry. And now it's time for turkey curry!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients needed to make leftover turkey curry
  • Step-by-step photos and instructions
  • Expert tips
  • Leftover Turkey Curry
Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (2)

Ingredients needed to make leftover turkey curry

  • leftover turkey - cubed
  • tomato passata
  • onion - either yellow or red onion, or shallots
  • ginger puree
  • garlic
  • Greek yogurt
  • vegetable oil
  • garam masala
  • ground cumin
  • turmeric
  • salt and pepper - to taste
  • fresh coriander - cilantro, to garnish
  • chicken stock -broth

Step-by-step photos and instructions

Since the turkey is already cooked, all we need to worry is the curry sauce, which is super easy to whip up.

  • add the peeled onion, garlic and ginger puree to a food processor and blitz until finely chopped
  • heat up the oil in a pan, add the onion mixture and fry until golden
Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (3)
  • add the spices and leave to fry for a further 2 minutes
  • in go the tomato passata and chicken broth, plus the cubed leftover turkey
  • leave to cook with the lid on until the sauce is reduced and thick
  • add the yogurt, season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with parsley or coriander
Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (4)

Expert tips

I used tomato passata, but fresh or canned chopped or plum tomatoes could be used instead too. Of course, the very essence of a curry sauce are the spices used. Earthy, hot, deep, and divinely aromatic, these spices give the dish an unmistakable Indian flavour.

You can swap leftover turkey for leftover chicken, in case you had a rather large roast chicken that needs using up.To bring the heat of the spices down, yogurt always does the trick. Although you can also use cream or, for an even more exotic flavour, coconut milk.

It's down to own preference though, for this recipe I only used Greek yogurt, its creaminess making the sauce even richer. This leftover turkey curry is such a delightful dish, ridiculously cheap, but tasty as only a good curry can be.

Because I cooked this turkey curry for the whole family, I did not use any chilli, as my daughters won't like spice, but you can definitely add some red or green chilli, or chilli flakes or powder. Do give it a go!

Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (5)

If you’ve liked myLEFTOVER TURKEY CURRYor any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can alsoFOLLOW MEonFACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTERESTto see more delicious food and what I’m getting up to.

Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (6)

Leftover Turkey Curry

Leftover Turkey Curry, a delicious meal ready in about 30 minutes. A quick and easy recipe that will help you use up leftover turkey that could otherwise go to waste. It's a mild curry that makes it perfect for a family dinner recipe.

3.57 from 32 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 249kcal

Author: Daniela Apostol

Ingredients

  • 3 cups leftover turkey, cubed
  • 1 tin tomato passata (500 ml, 17 oz)
  • 1 onion
  • 1 teaspoon ginger puree
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • fresh coriander (cilantro) to garnish
  • 1 cup chicken stock (broth)

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  • Peel the garlic and onion, and add them to a food processor together with the ginger puree, and blitz until finely chopped.

  • Heat up the oil in a pan, and add the onion mixture.

  • Fry until golden, then add the turmeric, garam masala and cumin, and give it a stir.

  • Fry for 2 minutes so the spices can release their flavours, then pour in the tomato passata and chicken broth/stock.

  • In go the cubed leftover turkey, and leave to cook with the lid on until the sauce is reduced and thickened.

  • Add the yogurt and chopped coriander/parsley, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve hot.

  • Take off the heat, and serve hot with rice or flat bread.

Video

Notes

  • I used tomato passata, but fresh or canned chopped or plum tomatoes could be used instead too. Of course, the very essence of a curry sauce are the spices used. Earthy, hot, deep, and divinely aromatic, these spices give the dish an unmistakable Indian flavour.
  • You can swap leftover turkey for leftover chicken, in case you had a rather large roast chicken that needs using up.To bring the heat of the spices down, yogurt always does the trick. Although you can also use cream or, for an even more exotic flavour, coconut milk.
  • It's down to own preference though, for this recipe I only used Greek yogurt, its creaminess making the sauce even richer. This leftover turkey curry is such a delightful dish, ridiculously cheap, but tasty as only a good curry can be.
  • Because I cooked this turkey curry for the whole family, I did not use any chilli, as my daughters won't like spice, but you can definitely add some red or green chilli, or chilli flakes or powder. Do give it a go!

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 200mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this Recipe? Share it Today!Mention @GorgeousRecipes or tag #gorgeousrecipes!

Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What to do with dry turkey leftovers? ›

The dried meat will absorb the moisture and be more edible. Make any kind of dish with a rich sauce, to give the dry meat some richness. Or just serve it with a rich gravy. The next time I do turkey and have leftovers I will make this recipe…..

Can you freeze curry made from leftover turkey? ›

You can make your leftovers into new meals and then freeze them. If you make a new meal such as curry or casserole from the leftovers, then you can also freeze this, even if you are using turkey that was originally frozen.

Is leftover turkey good after 7 days? ›

USDA recommends using cooked turkey within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. Turkey can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Although safe indefinitely, frozen leftovers can lose moisture and flavor when stored for longer times in the freezer.

How do I make leftover turkey moist again? ›

Place your carved meat in a shallow baking dish and cover it with stock. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place in low oven, somewhere around 250 degrees, for 5-10 minutes. The dryness won't be entirely gone after this short broth bath, but the turkey will definitely be more moist than before.

How long does leftover turkey curry last? ›

The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that cooked turkey should be eaten or frozen within two days of cooking. Celebrity chef Vivek Singh says it can last a little longer. He says cooked turkey is good for up to five days – the day of cooking plus four more – if stored in the fridge.

How long will turkey curry last in the fridge? ›

You should eat this Turkey Curry straight away, and within 48 hours of the turkey being cooked and cooled. If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Turkey Curry in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

Can I reheat turkey curry twice? ›

In the fridge Technically, you shouldn't reheat food more than once, according to the Food Standards Agency. So if your turkey was roasted on Christmas Day and then reheated to make this curry, really you should be eating it straight away.

What to eat with leftover curry? ›

Make a creamy curry pasta with very little effort. All you need to do is add three tablespoons of cream to one cup of leftover curry. Add some spinach and ground chicken and you've got a delicious sauce. Toss in the noodles and this dish is done.

Why does leftover curry taste better? ›

Once cool, molecules in the starch rearrange themselves and trap flavour compounds from the surrounding sauce. , its flavour and aroma compounds continue to mingle together to produce new flavour molecules.

Does curry sauce go bad? ›

An unopened bottle or jar of curry sauce can last for about 1-2 years past the printed date, when stored in a cool, dark place. Once the sauce is opened, it's best to use it within 1-2 weeks if stored in the refrigerator. As for homemade curry sauce, it will generally last for about 4-5 days in the fridge.

What to do with leftover turkey drippings? ›

If you roasted a turkey, don't throw out the drippings from the pan! This flavorful liquid makes a great base for gravy, stock, or soup. Start by pouring the liquid through a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids. Then remove the fat that floats to the top.

How long does dried turkey last? ›

Dehydrating meat is a great way to preserve and store it for up to 30 years when done correctly. Dehydrating meat involves removing water content and achieving a kill step temperature of 165°F is essential to ensure that all harmful bacteria are eliminated.

Why is my turkey dry and tough? ›

Turkey is a lean meat, and Healthline reports that turkey has slightly less fat in its dark meat than chicken. Another reason why turkey may be dry is due to its poor breast-to-leg ratio. By the time one gets the leg meat to cook to temperature so it's safe for consumption, the breast meat often has dried out.

How good are turkey leftovers good for? ›

How long do the turkey and trimmings stay safe in the refrigerator or freezer? The answer is simple: leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four days. This means you have until the Monday after Thanksgiving to eat all those delicious leftovers or place them in the freezer to enjoy later.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanial Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6314

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanial Hackett

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: Apt. 935 264 Abshire Canyon, South Nerissachester, NM 01800

Phone: +9752624861224

Job: Forward Technology Assistant

Hobby: Listening to music, Shopping, Vacation, Baton twirling, Flower arranging, Blacksmithing, Do it yourself

Introduction: My name is Nathanial Hackett, I am a lovely, curious, smiling, lively, thoughtful, courageous, lively person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.