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A bowl of The Best Totally Creamy Leftover Turkey Curry with naan bread, raita and rice
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5 from 4 votes

The Best Totally Creamy Leftover Turkey Curry

I might be biased but this really is the best Leftover Turkey Curry you could hope to make. It’s totally creamy with coconut milk and double cream, punchy with spices, garlic, chilli and ginger and is gorgeously relaxing to make. A little bit of chopping, a stir here or there and you’re done.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: British
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 522kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil or ghee
  • 1 large onion
  • 8 to matoes peeled and chopped *
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 red chilli diced with seeds
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 inch fresh ginger peeled and grated
  • 1 tablespoon chutney mango, ploughmans or ale chutney
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 400 g leftover turkey meat
  • 400 ml coconut milk
  • 300 ml double cream
  • 200 g leftover roast potatoes halved (optional)
  • Handful fresh coriander
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large flat bottomed pan.
  • Add the diced onions and cook very gently for 15-20 minutes until transparent.
  • Dry fry the caraway, fennel, cumin and coriander seeds in a small pan over a low heat for about 45 seconds – 1 minute. Keep a close eye so they don’t burn. Then pound them in a pestle and mortar until finely crushed.
  • Add the crushed seeds along with the turmeric and garam masala into the onions. Also add the chilli, garlic and fresh ginger. Stir in for 5 minutes.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes, chutney (if using) and salt cook on a gentle simmer for 20 minutes or until the tomatoes and spices have reduced to a pulp.
  • Add the coconut milk, double cream and turkey meat. Stir together well. Turn up the heat to bring the curry to boil, then turn down to simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Add the roast potatoes (if using) but do not stir in too heavily or the meat and potatoes will break up too much. Cook for a final 15 minutes.
  • Sprinkle over the fresh coriander just before serving.

Notes

  • Peeling the tomatoes is totally optional. I really dislike cooked tomato skin so it’s always an extra step I take but if you can’t be bothered then don’t worry. To peel the tomatoes cut a small cross at the base of each tomato and submerge in just boiled water for 5 minutes. Remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and the skins should peel back pretty easily.
  • You dry fry the spices because it releases a toasted flavour so it is worth the effort.
  • The red chilli adds a slight heat to the proceedings but if you would like your curry ultra mild then discard the seeds.
  • The chutney is optional but well worth it if you have an open jar lying around.
    If you want your curry dairy-free then substitute the double cream for coconut cream.
  • Instead of the roast potatoes, or alongside them you could also add any leftover vegetables. Squash, cauliflower, parsnips and carrots work the best.
  • Serve with basmati rice, cucumber raita and naan bread.

Nutrition

Calories: 522kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 935mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2265IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 5mg