Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

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

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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)

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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

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Leftover Turkey Curry - My Gorgeous Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze leftover turkey curry? ›

You can freeze turkey, other meat and meals cooked from previously cooked and frozen meat. But once defrosted, the pause button is off and you should eat the food within 24 hours. You can make your leftovers into new meals and then freeze them.

Is it safe to reheat turkey curry? ›

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 do with leftover Thai green curry? ›

Here are delightful cooking ideas to get through your leftover curry paste.
  1. Stir-Fried Curry Rice Noodles. ...
  2. Spiced-Up Beef Burgers and Fish Cakes. ...
  3. Curried Oven-Roasted Potatoes. ...
  4. Evening Curried Scrambled Eggs. ...
  5. Simple Curried Egg Salad Sandwich. ...
  6. Light Coconut Curry Soup.
Jan 3, 2022

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.

How many times can you reheat turkey curry? ›

As the turkey has already been cooked and reheated once you should avoid reheating the curry as meat shouldn't be reheated more than once for food safety reasons. If you'd like to make this curry ahead of time simply follow the instructions to make the sauce but don't add the turkey.

How do you reheat leftover turkey and keep it moist? ›

Place the turkey pieces in a baking dish and drizzle with a few tablespoons of stock and/or butter. Cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave the sliced turkey (cover with a damp paper towel) in a microwave-safe dish at 50% power in 1-minute intervals.

How do you reheat leftover turkey without drying it out? ›

Simply heat your oven to 300 degrees, put the carved meat in a baking dish, and add some chicken broth or turkey stock to the pan. The meat will absorb some of the liquid as it heats, making it nice and juicy. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in the oven until the meat is hot, 20 to 30 minutes.

What can I eat with curry instead of rice? ›

11 Low Carb Side Dishes For Curry
  • Cauliflower Rice.
  • Celeriac Bhaji.
  • Cauliflower Bhaji.
  • Golden Turmeric Cauliflower rice.
  • Low Carb Flatbreads.
  • Easy Cauliflower Rice Pulao.
  • Simple Pan Fried Cabbage.
  • Zucchini Bhaji.

What is the best curry to reheat? ›

Chicken tikka masala

This takeaway favourite is freezer-friendly and quick to reheat, giving you the chance to get ahead and save money.

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.

What do Thai people eat with green curry? ›

One-Pot Green Curry Chicken

Green Curry is usually served with a side of Thai jasmine rice. This variation cooks everything in the same pot! It's a great way to quickly make green curry dishes at home. Plus, the rice absorbs all the flavors!

Can you eat leftover curry cold? ›

Providing you have cooled your leftovers safely and kept them in the fridge, it is absolutely fine to eat your leftovers cold straight from the fridge…. However, if you like your leftovers warm, it's important that you reheat until piping hot throughout.

Why is Thai green curry so good? ›

The base is made with young green chilis, making the curry hotter than other curries. Many feel the natural spiciness of the curry makes it one of the best-tasting. However, if you're not a fan of spicy food, this might not be your dish.

How long can you freeze turkey curry? ›

You can freeze cooked turkey, other cooked meat and meals made from cooked and frozen meat. But once defrosted, you should eat the food within 24 hours. You can use previously cooked and frozen turkey to make a new meal, such as a turkey curry. This new meal can be frozen too, but make sure you only reheat it once.

Can you freeze curry leftovers? ›

Curries also freeze beautifully. You can make them in a large batch, either in a saucepan on the stove or in a slow cooker. You can bulk them out with potatoes and other vegetables to make them more economical. Once cooked, you can freeze them in bulk or individual portions with rice.

Can you freeze curry made with leftover chicken? ›

And, the whole thing can be frozen for your own homemade ready meal. So, if you want to make something different with your leftover chicken why not give my curry recipe a try!

Can leftover curry be frozen? ›

This is perfectly safe if you wash the containers after soaking them - you are not a newborn baby after all! Freeze a curry by all means - but remember to use it within 3 months under normal freezing conditions.

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