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Let's start with Christmas Day. Roast the turkey in a pan which has a ventilated, removable tray on top so you can collect the sediment in the bottom for basting. When the turkey has cooked you will see this sediment remains. Don't throw it away. Pour into small ice cube containers and freeze. This will provide natural stock cubes without any addivites for gravy and casseroles. Try it with beef ragout - it's delicious.
Christmas is over and we're now into Boxing Day. Do you groan at the thought of days of eating up cold turkey? Well, don't. While the odd turkey sandwich and salad may go down a treat at lunchtime, during these cold winter evenings you need hot food, especially if you are elderly and your circulation is slowing.
First there is the stock. Carve all the meat. I tend to freeze most of the white meat that's left over in slices. Then I can use it to make a quick turkey and pasta dish for the children one evening if I am in a hurry. Team it with some home-made tomato sauce (easily made by stir frying a pound of tomatoes, an onion and a clove of garlic and then pureeing it with some chopped fresh basil or a teaspoon of dried) and stir fry veg. A healthy and cheap meal in under half an hour.
Once you have stripped your turkey bare, put the carcass into a large pan and add enough boiling water to almost cover it. Boil for around 20 minutes and allow to cool. Skim the fat off the top and pare off any meat that's left on the bones. You can now use the stock to make a healthy turkey, leek and potato soup. Just boil up some of the stock and pared-off turkey meat with a large potato or two, onion, clove of sliced garlic and a couple of leeks until all the veg are soft, and puree. Add a swirl of cream and serve with wholemeal or granary bread. Perfect for cold winter evenings or lunchtimes. Reserve about a pint of the stock for the receipe below.
I use the brown meat and a little of the white to make a huge korma curry, which is not too hot for the children. This takes a while to cook, but it's worth the effort. I have a huge enamel cauldron which goes on the hob with a little extra virgin olive oil or one of the delicious nut or seed oils such as walnut or sesame seed. Stir fry an onion and a clove or two or sliced or crushed garlic, depending on your preference. If you want to be totally authentic and have a hotter curry, now is the time to add crushed coriander and cumin seeds and any other spices you might want and just singe them. Otherwise, use curry powder later on. When the onion and garlic are soft, add peppers or chillis, again, if you like your curry hot. Add the diced turkey and sufficient home-made turkey stock to cover all ingredients. Because it's a korma I now throw in a whole block of creamed coconut. Besides making it sweeter and taking away some of the heat, this also thickens the sauce and without it you may need to make up a cornflour paste and add to the liquid before it boils. I also use a teaspoon or two of mustard powder to add more flavour and thickness followed by korma curry powder (again it's up to you how much you use).
Of course, you can make any curry, but this is marvellous for children as it doesn't burn their throats. My two have eaten this since they were toddlers.
The sauce needs to cook for around 15-20 minutes and you can now toss in some sliced carrots, raisins if you want, leeks or courgettes. Of course, this isn't how it is made in India but it gets the children eating vegetables without their realising it. Apples in curry are a British idea, but there is no reason whey they shouldn't go in as well. A nice Bramley or two will add more sweetness.
I try to cook brown rice as it is healthier. This will take around 25 minutes at least as I can never get on with the quick cook variety, which I find goes mushy. Serve with naan bread and freeze whatever is left over and you have your own ready, but healthy meals for those evenings when you are too rushed or too tired to cook.
Other ideas for using up the turkey are: pancakes, crepes (add the turkey to a bechemel sauce), turkey and ham pie or just a simple stir fry with onions, peppers and soy sauce. By being a little creative you can provide cheap and healthy meals which you can freeze if you become "turkeyed-out" by 27 December!
Happy eating.
Caroline
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