The delicious centerpiece of a big roast turkey is the most desired meal of any holiday; even more delicious is a stock made from the leftovers.
Turkey is a dish we do not want to waste; many new dishes can be made with the leftovers. One of the best ways to utilize turkey leftovers is through turkey stocks. There are essentially two types of turkey stock. The first is made beforehand with the neck and is used as a base for gravy. The second type of stock is made after the turkey is cooked, by using the leftover bones. The second stock can be used to make stews, soups, risottos, and sauces. Continue reading to learn turkey stock recipe ideas for everything from traditional dishes to curries with a twist.
If you want to make a turkey-flavored stock for your Christmas gravy, then you should use only the giblet and neck of the turkey. The giblet is the hard round muscle that comes in the bag inside it. However, the liver will not be used to make the stock.
On the other hand, to make a stock with the turkey bones, separate all the meat off the bones and keep them aside. The cold turkey meat can be used in other recipes. The meat can be frozen for up to one month.
Simple Turkey Stock Recipe
A basic stock can be made with water and turkey bones, but some extras can make it more delicious:
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- Tip the turkey neck and bones into a large stockpot or saucepan.
- Then add carrots, roughly chopped onions, celery, a sprig of fresh thyme, a few whole peppercorns, and a bay leaf.
- Pour cold water to cover all the ingredients generously.
- Start boiling the stock, skim off the foamy layer that forms on the surface, then lower the heat and simmer everything slowly for 3 hours.
- Last, turn off the stove, leave the stock to cool down a bit, then strain everything in a container carefully. The stock is ready to chill, freeze, or use.
How to Add Some More Flavor to Your Stock
The turkey recipe given above is a good regular stock, but to boost the flavor or make the color deeper there are few ideas you can try:
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- To increase the flavor, the strained stock can be boiled until reduced by half.
- For a darker stock and deeper flavor, the vegetables and bones can be roasted until lightly charred before use.
Stocks Made With Leftover Vegetables
We throw away at least one or two parts of almost every vegetable. Vegetable parts are filled with vitamins and nutrients. The parts we throw mostly are peels or seeds which are filled with even more vitamins. Stocks can become more nutritious with onion and carrot peelings, parsley stalks, and celery leaves.
Making Stock in a Pressure Cooker
To extract all the flavors and make the stock more delicious, pressure cookers are great. By following the regular stock method, stock can be made on the cooker on medium pressure for 30 mins.
Making Stock in a Slow Cooker
When the stock is made in a slow cooker, it can be left to bubble away gently for hours. Cook the stock on low heat for 8 to 10 hours.
Five Favorite Turkey Recipes Made With Stocks
Delicious Gravy
This gravy base can be made with two-day-old Turkey stock. It is great for serving an unexpected guest without compromising on flavor. It is filled with earthy vegetables and meaty flavor.
Asian Noodles with Turkey Stock
Another delicious dish can be made with turkey stock and Asian noodles packed with plenty of fresh herbs and slices of turkey. To prepare the recipe, warm up the frozen stock for 20 minutes. Put a slice of lime with the dish and squeeze the lemon juice to get a more fresh taste.
Spiced Ham Soup & Parsnip
Use up leftovers and make a delicious dish with ham soup and spiced parsnip. This recipe ensures nothing goes to waste. Throw in parsnips and cold roasties with a glug of cream, mixed with turkey stock, and turn the plain vegetable into something special. Stir a lot of shredded ham and spread some cream on the top for an extra dose of decadence.
Turkey Minestrone
Turkey minestrone is an incredible dish you can make with turkey stock. This dish is also filled with so many healthy ingredients such as olive oil, smoked bacon, red onion, carrot, celery sticks, garlic cloves, and thyme sprigs. Turkey minestrone is basically a soup made with bacon, herbs, and seasonal vegetables which will be perfect for any cold winter evening. This will be nourishing for your health and delicious as well.
Ramen With Turkey
Ramen is a healthy and delicious dish loved by many people around the world. The dish will become tastier with the addition of turkey to the bowl. Turkey ramen can be more flavorful with miso, mushrooms, and leftover turkey gravy to add an irresistible umami twist. This meal has everything from meaty turkey slices, chunky noodles, and sensational savory broth to a poached or half-boiled egg to top it all off. Instead of making soggy sandwiches, spice up leftovers with these nourishing noodles recipes.
Turkey Vegetable Soup
A delicious soup can be made from turkey. To make the soup, first, saute some sliced mushrooms with one tablespoon of olive oil for 3 to 5 minutes until the mushrooms give off their liquid and turn brown. Keep the mushrooms aside. Then add finely chopped carrots and onions to the remaining oil and cook for at least 5 minutes until tender. Again, add potato, turkey stock, stirred mushrooms, and some fresh herbs to the pan, and wait until it boils. Boil the mixture for 10 minutes until the potato is tender. Now stir in the turkey meat. Season to taste with pepper and salt.
So many delicious dishes can be made from turkey leftovers. Do not throw out any part of the turkey without checking out the amazing recipes which can be made with turkey fat, cartilage, and piles of bones.
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