Talking turkey
Putting the fun into going cold turkey after Christmas.
First Published in North by Northeast Magazine December 2015
Christmas turkey often gets a bad wrap; ‘it’s just another American tradition’ I hear people say, but as it happens, it’s not.
Granted, Turkeys originate in North America and more than 10 million of them are sacrificed for Thanksgiving dinner but the Turkey as the centrepiece of the Christmas meal can be traced back to England And the 1600’s.
King Edward VII (a chap who liked a feed) replacing the traditional ‘Christmas Peacock’ at the royal table with the humble turkey in 1901 so if you want to bitch and moan about Australia’s current yuletide traditions, you can blame draconian imperialism rather than our appetite for Uncle Sam and the founding fathers of the new world.
Cooked well however, a Christmas turkey is a feast to behold and if you’re concerned about sustainable agriculture, you can’t go past a turkey, it being one of the fastest growing creatures in the world making it more ethical than any other livestock.
Although most Australians tend to eat turkey only at Christmas, ironically the Israelis eat more turkey (13kg per capita) than any other nationality.
So now we’ve got that straight and we’re all comfortable hoeing into a big feed of turkey this Christmas, there’s just one problem; what to do with the leftovers.
Your fridge is no doubt groaning with the 10kg of ham that didn’t get eaten not to mention the pudding, but they’ll both keep so time is ticking to make use of the left over turkey before it’s destined for the compost with the leftover trifle.
I’m including 3 recipes this issue so regardless of what your plans are for Boxing Day there will be a dish to suit. If it’s mid-January and you’re just getting around to reading this or you’re a non-Christian who doesn’t observe Christmas don’t despair, all 3 recipes work with cold chicken and if you’re really keen, poach a chicken breast or two and start with that.
Before we get down to ‘talking turkey (sorry, couldn’t help myself) there’s one thing to remember on Christmas day. Turkey is very high in the amino acid Tryptophan and tryptophan is a precursor to melatonin, which is your sleepy hormone. So before you’re so overcome with tiredness that you need to go directly from the dining table to couch, be sure to whack the leftovers in the fridge or you may just eating takeaway on boxing day.
The Ultimate Turkey Sandwich Filling
Like all these recipes, this filling is adapted from a chicken recipe but lends itself perfectly to turkey. Whether you’re trying to impress the in-laws or you’re off on a romantic picnic, these sandwiches are sure to please.
2 cups finely chopped cooked turkey meat 1 cup finely chopped celery ½ cup finely chopped chives or shallots ½ cup finely chopped parsley or chervil ¼ cup toasted pine nuts or slithered almonds Zest of 1 lemon (finely grated) ½ cup of mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream Salt, white pepper and cayenne pepper to taste.
Mix all ingredients together and spread sandwiches liberally with filling. |
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Coronation TurkeyIf you’re not familiar with coronation chicken, it was invented for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 by Rosemary Hume (founder of the famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.) Rosemary set out to create a memorable cold buffet item to mark the special occasion just perfect for eating while sitting around a TV cabinet the size of a dinning table with a screen the size of a plate wearing your Sunday best and witnessing the grand occasion. Chicken was still a luxury item reserved for Christmas and special occasions and curry powder, well that was as haute cuisine. Although this is a simplified version, these days the ingredients are a lot more stock-standard which is good as you’ll probably have them on hand. Coronation turkey can thrown together in the morning before the Boxing Day test starts and you can whip it out at lunch without missing a minute of the action. That said we’re playing against a sub-standard West Indian side so chances are there’ll be plenty of time through out the day to prepare it without missing any action. If operating a fork on Boxing Day may pose a risk to your guests or yourself, this also makes a fine sandwich filling. 2 cups sliced cooked turkey 2 tbsp. mango chutney 1 tbsp. curry powder ¼ cup plain yoghurt ¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup toasted slithered almonds Salt to taste Combine chutney, curry powder, yogurt and mayonnaise and mix until well combined. Stir through turkey and leave to marinate in the fridge for several hours. Sprinkle with slithered almonds and serve with green salad or rice pilaf. |
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Turkey EnchiladasThis recipe is good if you actually want to sit down to a proper hot meal or even if you decide to freeze the turkey for use in the new year. It’s quick and easy and a definite crowd pleaser for the whole family.
4 cups sliced cold turkey 12 small flour or corn tortillas 3 onions – sliced 2 red capsicum – sliced 1 tbsp. cumin 1 cup chicken (or turkey) stock 2-4 cups of spinach (optional) 2 cups grated cheese
Easy enchilada sauce 1 cup crushed tomatoes ½ cup tomato paste ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1 tbsp. cumin 1 tbsp. paprika ½ teaspoon dried oregano 1 cup white stock Salt and pepper and cayenne pepper to taste.
Method Sauté onion and capsicum off in a little oil until translucent. Add cumin and a little salt and pepper and then pour in stock and allow to reduce. Turn off the heat and throw in the turkey. Divide mixture between the tortillas, add a little spinach to each and roll them up and pack them side by side in a baking dish. Mix all sauce ingredients together as well as any juices left over from the filling and pour over the top. Top with grated cheese and bake in a moderate oven until the cheese is golden brown.
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