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

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 I freeze leftover turkey curry? ›

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.

How long is leftover turkey good for? ›

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 much curry powder to use? ›

The amount of curry powder you need to use will depend on how you're using it. If you're using it as a rub/seasoning, start with about 2 tsp. per pound of meat. If you're adding it to a yogurt marinade, we suggest adding about 2 Tbsp.

How long does leftover turkey curry last? ›

Recipe Tips

If you want to freeze your turkey curry for another day, cool the sauce down before adding the turkey. Mix the cold leftover turkey with the cold sauce and freeze. Add the spinach on reheating. The curry will freeze for up to three months.

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.

Can you eat cooked turkey 5 days later? ›

Cooked turkey and other leftovers can be kept in the fridge safely for about three to four days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FoodSafety.gov say. But after that time, "the risk of food poisoning goes up," the Mayo Clinic notes, pointing to the growth of bacteria in refrigerated leftovers.

Is a 3 year old frozen turkey still good? ›

Frozen Turkey

Turkeys can be kept in the freezer indefinitely. However, cook turkeys within 1 year for the best quality.

Can you eat 8 day old turkey? ›

Turkey: 3-4 days.

Eat turkey within three to four days of cooking. If you use the turkey in a new dish like a soup or casserole, only consume within those initial four days. Another option is freezing the cooked turkey. Turkey can last up to four more months if frozen.

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 cooked turkey with gravy? ›

Good news: turkey is definitely freeze-able. Just remove the meat from the bones first. Slicing the meat will also help it to defrost evenly. If you can, pour a bit of gravy over the meat before freezing; it'll add moisture.

Can you freeze and reheat curry sauce? ›

Tomato and stock based curries freeze particularly well. For curries containing coconut milk the results can be slightly variable. Coconut milk frozen by itself can separate slightly when thawed, it is still fine to use but may look slightly grainy.

Can you freeze turkey dinner leftovers? ›

How Long Can You Freeze Leftover Turkey? Leftover turkey freezes well for up to six months if properly handled, packed and frozen within three days of the original preparation. However, I like to try and use it within three months for best flavor and texture, and to avoid the possibility of freezer burn.

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