The holiday season is around the corner! Following family gatherings and feasts, what do we do with all the leftovers? Borrowing inspiration from the United Kingdom, shepherd’s pie is a classic example of a savory dish, that came to be by making the most of the leftovers from a “Sunday roast” and transforming it into a delicious standalone meal that can feed a crowd. In the United States, Thanksgiving is our biggest family gathering day. In the spirit of the shepherd’s pie, we’d like to highlight some creative ideas to transform holiday leftovers this time of year, provided by the culinary team at Restaurant Associates.
Stuffing: Packed with flavor and moisture, stuffing can be made into delicious croutons by flattening out the prepared stuffing, drying it out, and cutting croutons to your size of choice. Bake in the oven until golden, dried, and crunchy. Use these homemade croutons interchangeably with croutons used for salads and soups.
Cranberry Sauce: Homemade or canned, this sweet edition can be savored for weeks to come. Over a pot on low heat, cook your cranberry sauce to reduce the water content and create a jam consistency. Pair this tart topping with sweet potato waffles (see below) or with a festive cheese board. For an alternative versatile option, take a small amount of your cranberry sauce and blend it into a zesty vinaigrette using vinegar, spices, and olive oil. Drizzle over salads, sandwiches, meat and vegetables.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes: For some, leftover mashed sweet potatoes require zero edits, as they reheat quite well, but if you’re looking for a new creation using this beta-carotene-rich staple, try your hand at sweet potato waffles for a long weekend brunch option. Fold your mashed potatoes into the wet mix for your standard waffle or pancake batter recipe and enjoy the added flavor and sweetness. Mashed sweet potatoes (or regular mashed potatoes) also provide a shortcut to homemade croquettes (filled with your leftover turkey or roast), the potato portion of gnocchi, or a comforting creamy soup!
Dinner Rolls: With the table’s plentiful bounty, your dinner rolls may not have been the star of the show. Take your leftover rolls and lay them flat in a pan to create a Detroit-style pull-apart pizza! Top your rolls with your favorite sauce, cheese, and toppings, and you’ve got dinner or lunch for another day. In the mood for something sweet? Tear the dinner rolls into large pieces and transform them into a bread pudding or French toast casserole for your household to share.
Turkey Meal Ideas, Putting It All Together –
Turkey Pot Pie Casserole: Take the croutons a step further. Mix your cooked dark turkey meat with broth made from turkey bones. Add in chopped green beans, turkey gravy, and top with stuffing croutons and the Thanksgiving meal can be reformed into a delicious turkey pot pie casserole.
Turkey Salad: For a lighter meal, the cooked turkey can be tossed with cooked collard greens and green beans, dressed with cranberry vinaigrette, and tossed with the stuffing croutons.
Turkey Sandwich: A classic for a reason! Stack a dinner roll sandwich with cooked turkey, cranberry jam, and your toppings of choice.
The practice of repurposing leftovers creates an opportunity to express gratitude for the food we celebrate with during the spirit of the holidays and for the loved ones who have prepared the food. We tend to err on the side of excess during holiday meals so no one misses out, and the added benefits of transforming these leftovers is that they are still delicious without having to make entirely new meals, in addition to reducing food waste. Variations to these examples provided can be applied year-round.
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