The holiday season means one thing: preparing mountains of food to share with loved ones.
But after all the work, we are often left with an overwhelming amount of leftovers. Annoying, isn’t it?
Contrary to popular belief, leftovers can be repurposed to create an array of wonderful dishes. With a bit of creativity and planning, you can transform your leftover turkey and vegetables into a whole new round of exciting meals.
Today we at Top Table are going to give you a few recipes and serving suggestions for holiday leftovers. By the end, we hope you will be inspired to retain the festive spirit long after the celebrations have ended.
Preserving Leftover Perfection
Proper storage and following preservation guidance is the best way to keep your ingredients fresh. Here are a few tips that will help you:
- Is there anything worse than soggy leftovers? To avoid it, package any meat separately from starchy sides like mashed potatoes or stuffing. Not only does this keep the flavours in tact, but it ensures the texture is not ruined.
- Within two hours of the last bite, it is recommended that you transfer everything to the fridge. This will prevent bacterial growth and also retain freshness.
- Before transferring any ingredients into storage containers, make sure they are clean! Moisture will speed up the spoiling process.
Repurposing Your Leftovers
If you have a lot of leftovers and have no idea what to do with them, you are in the right place. Below we have listed some recipe ideas based on traditional Christmas ingredients.
- Festive Sandwiches – The leftover ingredients will allow you to make fantastic sandwiches in the coming days with a festive touch. Layer your leftover turkey, or ham, with cranberry sauce, gravy, lettuce and tomato.
- Creamy Turkey Noodle Comfort – This hearty noodle soup is fantastic for those colder winter days. Sauté leftover veggies, simmer them in a creamy broth with shredded turkey and finish with fresh herbs.
- Turkey or Ham Pizza – This simple trick can really elevate your pizza game. Whether you plan to make the pizza yourself or order one, leftover turkey and ham can really make a difference.
- Bubble & Squeak – This fantastic British staple is easy to prepare, combining leftover mashed potato with cabbage. Mash it all together, add some turkey or ham and fry it. You will be astounded at the result for such a simple dish.
Remember, leftovers are not a burden! With a bit of creativity and persistence, they can be reused in the days and weeks after Christmas. Not only this, but they can continue to produce delicious and satisfying meals for the whole family.
If you are planning a large get together this holiday season, our team can assist you. We offer a range of services, from table hire to catering equipment hire. We can accommodate large groups as well as smaller ones.
If you would like any more information on any of the services we offer, we encourage you to contact us today. Let us do the heavy lifting and enjoy the holiday season without catering concerns.