Christmas Day has been and gone but there’s mountains of food leftover and you just don’t know what to do with it. So, we’ve come up with some fantastic recipes that use your leftover Christmas food and turn it into a culinary delight.
Classic Turkey Curry
A classic recipe in most UK households after the festive season is turkey curry. It’s super simple and super easy to make, and it makes the perfect meal for your Hydratem8 food pot. Plus, this recipe uses up the leftover turkey and roast potatoes.
Ingredients
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 sliced large onion
2 crushed garlic cloves
2 tbsp curry paste
150ml of water
300g leftover diced turkey
1 can chopped tomatoes
300g leftover roast or boiled potatoes
2 tbsp mango chutney
Small handful of roughly chopped coriander
Rice to serve
Method
In a large pan, heat the oil over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 3-4 minutes until it softens and begins to brown. Stir in the curry paste and crushed garlic and cook for a further 2 minutes
Add the can of chopped tomatoes and water. Bring the mix to the boil and allow to bubble for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, reduce the heat and add the turkey and potatoes to the pan. Cook for a further 3 minutes, then add the mango chutney. Serve with rice and sprinkle with chopped coriander.
You can experiment with this recipe by adding your own veg to it. You might like to try peppers, parsnips or even brussels sprouts!
Turkey Stir Fry
If curry isn’t your thing and you prefer something a little more oriental, then this turkey stir fry is the perfect protein booster.
250g egg noodles
1 tbsp soy sauce
500g sliced leftover turkey or Brussel sprouts
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp of brown sugar
1 thinly sliced red chilli
1 sliced garlic clove
100g beansprouts
2 thinly sliced spring onions
Method
Cook the noodles according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then drain and rinse with cold water. Put them to one side as you’ll need them later. In a small bowl mix the soy sauce, sugar, and lime juice together.
In a large wok or frying pan, heat the oil and add the chilli, garlic, onions and turkey and fry for 2 minutes.
Add the beansprouts and noodles and cook for a further 2 minutes. Now add the sauce you made earlier and give everything a good mix, making sure you coat all the veg and noodles with the sauce.
Heat everything through and tip into serving bowls. Enjoy!
Cheeseboard Mac n Cheese
Bored of eating cheese and crackers? Why not use up your leftovers and make a festive Mac n Cheese, it’s sure to be a favourite with the whole family.
Ingredients
500g macaroni
50g plain flour
50g butter
700ml milk
450g of grated leftover cheeseboard cheese
1 tbsp of Dijon or wholegrain mustard
6 tbsp of cranberry sauce
Optional 300g leftover ham cut into small pieces
100g leftover stuffing
Method
Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the packet but remove from the heat approximately 3 minutes early to keep the pasta al dente. Drain the pasta and leave to one side.
Gently warm the milk in a medium pan and make a white sauce by melting the butter in a large saucepan and gently adding the flour. Cook for one-minute stirring constantly. Slowly add the warm milk a ladleful at a time. Remember to keep stirring to avoid getting lumps in the sauce. Keep stirring until you have formed a smooth sauce.
Stir in the mustard and 400g of the cheese. Add the macaroni and cranberry sauce and stir until everything is coated in cheesy sauce.
Pour the mix into an ovenproof dish. Top with the remaining 50g of cheese and sprinkle over the leftover stuffing.
Cook in the oven for half an hour or until the macaroni cheese is crisp and golden on top at gas mark 4 or 180oC. Remove from the oven and leave to stand for a few minutes before serving.
Easy Christmas Pudding Strudel
If you’re looking for a recipe to use up your Christmas pudding but are bored with eating it as it is, this easy strudel recipe will leave you feeling satisfied. Perfect with a serving of warm custard.
Ingredients
250g leftover crumbled Christmas pudding
4 sheets of filo pastry
25g melted butter
250g mascarpone cheese
2 tbsp Irish cream liqueur
Method
Heat the oven to gas mark 6 or 200oC. In a large mixing bowl, mix the Christmas pudding, mascarpone cheese and liqueur.
On a baking tray lay a sheet of pastry and brush with some of the melted butter and lay another sheet on top, do this until you have used the four sheets.
Place the filling in the centre of the top sheet, so it resembles a log. Brush the edge of the pastry with butter. Roll the pastry up to enclose the filling. Brus with the rest of the butter. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Dust with icing sugar and serve with warm custard or fresh cream.
