Does anyone else like eating leftover turkey curry over rice? This easy leftover turkey curry can be made with smoked or baked thanksgiving turkey meat or from fresh turkey from the scratch. I have plenty of smoked leftover turkey meat from the Thanksgiving 2024 and leftover marinade that I made for my spicy apple curry to be used up this week and I decided to turn them in to delicious easy turkey dinner.
I always make turkey roast for Thanksgiving. I like to think I have adopted well in to incorporating my Sri Lankan spice rubs to turkey roast. I loved every minute cooking it the traditional way. There also have been times when I had to do something simple and easy just for my family thanksgiving dinner table.
This recipe that I decided to include in the post is the one from couple of years ago when I was not going to have guests over, I was short on time, and didn’t want to commit to dealing with huge amount of leftover by making a full bird roast. Instead I opted for a delicious spicy thanksgiving turkey curry over rice. Recipe includes the all ingredients from making spice seasoning mix to cooking the curry. However, if you decide to use smoked turkey or baked turkey meat please adjust the seasoning and spices considering the turkey meat is already seasoned. Also, cooking time is going for the leftover turkey curry needs to be much shorter. Leftover turkey curry dinner is easy 15 minute weeknight meal made with leftovers.
But this year I have a lot to be thankful for. Family, friends, work, health, and hobbies just to name a few. To be thankful for new beginnings, and good times I wanted to make a turkey dinner for my family, even though we had a Friendsgiving on the Thanksgiving day. I made an apple curry for the event and ended up suing the marinade I made for the apples to make the leftover turkey curry. Besides what better way for a recipe blogger who always looking for new curry recipe fusions to celebrate thanksgiving than converting turkey meat in to a delicious turkey curry?
So here it comes! Make my leftover turkey curry recipe
If you hear a “meh” at the sound of turkey curry, this recipe is something you should really try. What better way is to add ample flavor and emulsification than a good spicy curry sauce with hot and aromatic red curry spice rub. The turkey curry sauce helps lock the flavors in and give humble turkey an extra boost. If you have any further doubt, please check out ever popular curry guy turkey tikka masala.
On adopted leftover roasted turkey curry recipe, I used 2 pounds of smoked turkey meat along with three heaping tablespoons of apple curry marinade, tough of cayenne pepper, cumin and yellow curry blend. Aroma from the apple curry marinade and fennel, cinnamon in yellow curry blend with sweetness from caramelized onions and tamarind add delicious Sri Lankan flavor notes to turkey curry. Richness from coconut cream helps emulsify flavors and prevent the meat from becoming too dry. To avoid overcooking, add the turkey meat once the sauce comes together and at the end. Read how to make red curry marinade from my previous post linked here.
Make spicy turkey curry from scratch
Ingredients
- 4 pound of turkey (use a mix of bone in breast and thighs)
- 3 tablespoons of roasted red curry powder
- 2 teaspoons of cayenne powder ( optional)
- Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder
- Teaspoon of yellow mustard
- Pinch of nutmeg powder ( in addition to what’s in red curry powder)
- Half a teaspoon black cumin seeds
- 2-inch piece of cinnamon
- 1 tablespoons of crushed whole black pepper
- 2 tablespoon of mung bean dhal
- Handful of curry leaves
- 3 green chilies
- One medium red onion sliced
- Teaspoon of tomato paste
- Teaspoon of tamarind paste
- Tablespoon of coconut oil
- 2 Cups of water
- One inch piece of ginger
- 5 cloves of garlic
- Tablespoon of salt
Cooking
- In a heavy bottomed pan, heat the oil and when hot, crack mustard seeds.
- Add mung dhal, ginger garlic minced together, cinnamon, nutmeg, curry leaves, and green chili, in that order
- Sauté for a minute and add onions and tomatoes. Sauté until soft and juices are released.
- Add turmeric, red curry powder, nutmeg, coriander, cayenne powder, crushed black pepper, and salt.
- Sauté to combine and cook for about two minutes.
- Add the pieces of turkey and toss to combine with the seasoning. Add water to cover the meat.
- Cover and cook until meat tender and cooked through. (20 minutes in pressure cooker or 45 minutes in Dutch oven)
- Serve hot over rice or mashed potatoes
Post recipe notes : If you are using already cooked turkey meat from roast, adjust seasoning to your taste and cook the curry with coconut milk or water. Shorten the cooking time and add turkey meat once the sauce comes together. Smooth curry powder or paste will give a smooth luxurious curry sauce.
