Leftovers are much more than just reheated food; they offer an opportunity to unleash creativity and innovation in the kitchen. Utilizing leftovers in new meals has a much deeper significance this holiday season. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 35% of perfectly good turkey meat in the U.S. only gets consumed after it’s initially cooked.
what to do with all the turkey left after thanksgiving dinner: mixed-race teen girl enjoys a … [+]
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Additionally, according to statistics reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019, around 106 million tons of food waste was generated across various sectors, with about 60% from food retail, food service, and residential sectors ending up in landfills.
Considering these statistics and the fact that a significant amount of food is produced gets thrown away each year, we’ve sought the advice of restaurant chefs who know a few things about repurposing leftover ingredients into delectable new dishes. Let’s take a waste-free approach to the holidays and discover new culinary adventures, one leftover at a time.
Andrew Thompson’s Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
Homemade Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Sandwich with Stuffing and Cranberry
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The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota‘s Chef de Cuisine, Andrew Thompson, brings a savory spin to the traditional leftover sandwich. “My favorite leftover concoction is a turkey cold sandwich, with plenty of cranberry sauce. If your turkey is done right, this leftover dish won’t disappoint,” he declares.
Thompson generously shares insider tips from the kitchen of Ritz-Carlton’s signature restaurant, Jack Dusty. They brine their turkeys for 24 hours in an herb, garlic, and brown sugar concoction before using a vacuum seal and sous vide cooking method overnight to ensure the perfect moistness.
Thompson proposes an unconventional alternative for those looking to shake up their Thanksgiving routine: “Try this technique – it’ll be a game changer for your Thanksgiving!” He also suggests experimenting with diverse flavors, like using a curry spice blend when preparing your turkey, which can lead to delicious turkey curry leftover sandwiches!
Dylon Ruiz’s Turkey Papas Rellenas
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Albany Ale & Oyster’s Dylon Ruiz introduces a new take on the classic holiday leftovers.
“Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches are a classic for good reason, but why not switch things up? Picture this: Turkey papa rellenas–the ultimate comfort food for this chilly weather,” suggests Ruiz.
In crafting a dish beloved in certain regions of Latin America and parts of the Caribbean, Ruiz starts by chopping some dark turkey meat to a consistency almost like ground meat. This meat is then stewed with sofrito, cumin, coriander, and a hint of tomato sauce for added depth and flavor. Once this is done, leftovers come into play–mashed potatoes and stuffing are turned into an easy-to-shape dough with a bit of egg and flour as binding agents.
Ruiz instructs, “Take a ball of your dough, flatten it into a disc, and spoon some of your turkey stew onto the middle of the disc before carefully wrapping it shut into a ball.” The final step? Deep fry each ball until it reaches a golden brown.
Side Dish Glow Ups from Nik Fields
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Nik Fields, also known as The Chic Chef, has shared several ways to inspire you to repurpose leftovers to unlock their full potential! She recommends making irresistible waffles or molding cold mashed potatoes into wonderfully crispy croquettes using leftover stuffing. Try her sautéed hash with onions and peppers for a unique sweet potato side.
Even dessert is not left behind, as Fields turns cranberry sauce into fruity pancakes and refashions pumpkin pie into a seasonal bread pudding.
Dan Vargo’s Turkey and Waffles with Spicy Cranberry Relish
Roasted Turkey Sandwich on a Stuffing Waffel with Mash Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce and Gravy … [+]
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On November 24th, award-winning Executive Chef Dan Vargo of Fine Coastal Cuisine reinvented a classic recipe with his “Turkey and Waffles with Spicy Cranberry Relish.” Vargo states, “I’m taking the traditional chicken and waffles recipe and giving it a Southern Thanksgiving twist.”
The foundation of this comforting breakfast dish is created by combining leftover stuffing and mashed potatoes. Vargo explains, “For the waffles, I take the leftover stuffing and mashed potato, and combine them with one egg. Then, place the mixture in a preheated waffle iron and cook until crispy on the edges.”
To complete the dish, he lightly dusts bite-sized pieces of leftover turkey meat with seasoned flour and shallow-fries them using heated oil in a skillet until golden brown. Vargo’s creativity shines through in his ingenious adaptation of the cranberry sauce. He adds a Southern twist to the leftover sauce by mixing in lime zest, lime juice, maple syrup, and minced jalapeño.
Marco Grajeda’s Turkey Sandwich with Gravy Dip
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From the heart of Sea Level Restaurant and Ocean Bar at Marriott Harbor Beach Resort, Chef Marco Grajeda leans towards a classic solution for leftovers. “My favorite thing to do with holiday leftovers is a classic choice. A sandwich!” says Grajeda.
He suggests transforming cranberry sauce into a tantalizing cranberry aioli, toasting a potato roll in a buttered pan, heating the carved turkey, and adding Muenster cheese. The final touch? “Heat the gravy for a sandwich dip.”
Craig Tooker’s Leftovers Empanadas
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Chef Craig Tooker from Gold Coast Kitchen + Cocktails at Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay shares an innovative use for Thanksgiving leftovers. “For the past few years, I’ve been using leftovers to make Thanksgiving empanadas,” he reveals.
These empanadas, filled with a mix of diced turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and gravy, are “perfect for a snack, light meal, or a side accompaniment.” After preparation, Tooker recommends dipping the golden-brown empanadas in cranberry sauce for a fantastic fusion of flavors.
Coatiest Gabbidon’s Tips for Transforming Leftovers
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Executive Sous Chef Coatiest Gabbidon of the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, prompts readers to think differently about Thanksgiving leftovers. “If you do Thanksgiving right, you should have weeks’ worth of leftovers to experiment with!” Gabbidon brings creative suggestions such as a Cubano-style Turkey Sandwich Melt, Cranberry Glazed Turkey Wings, and Turkey and Puff Pastry Tapas to get the ideas rolling.
He encourages readers to think beyond the traditional, starting with the original recipes. He notes, “Unique and tasty original dishes promise the best leftovers.” He further challenges conventional norms by suggesting the infusion of unexpected flavors into traditional dishes.
Gabbidon lists some of his favorite surprising elements: Pimento berries, Pimento berry wood for smoking, and Red Stripe Beer. He offers a launchpad for reimagining classic ingredients and dishes in the Thanksgiving spread through these examples.
Gavin Lambert’s Turkey Instant Ramen
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Known for his work with the Bon Ami Pop-up dinner series currently at 80 Thoreau in Concord, Mass, Chef Gavin Lambert shares his favorite method of repurposing Thanksgiving leftovers with a unique twist: “My favorite repurposing of turkey day leftovers is turkey instant ramen,” says Lambert.
In his innovative approach, he chops all the leftover turkey bones. He drops them into an instant pot overnight and “whatever leftover aromatics and vegetable scraps I have from cooking.” Lambert then strains the turkey stock, thickens it with leftover gravy and cranberry sauce, and seasons it with soy sauce and mirin.
Add some instant ramen to the broth and garnish it with sliced turkey meat, roasted Brussels sprouts, candied yams, or other extras at your disposal. As an added tip, Lambert advises saving any extra turkey stock to be used in future recipes, emphasizing the practicality and sustainability of his approach.
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