• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Knife and Soul
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About me
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About me
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Leftover Turkey Curry with Coconut Milk

    Nov 15, 2021 · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    A serving of 20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    A serving of 20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    A serving of 20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry
    A serving of 20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry

    A deliciously creamy, lightly spiced leftover turkey curry with coconut milk that the whole family will love. If you've just spent hours preparing a roast and are after a quick and easy curry to use up the leftovers, this is the perfect recipe for you. You can get this yummy curry on the table in 20 minutes using a few simple ingredients.

    The post contains additional information and helpful tips to ensure the recipe turns out great the first time. Please use the link above to jump to the recipe card at the end if you are in a hurry!

    Jump to:
    • ✅ 5 reasons why you'll love this recipe:
    • 🦃 Turkey Leftovers
    • 🛒 Ingredients and substitutions:
    • 🧑‍🍳 Leftover turkey curry in 3 simple steps
    • 🍽 Serving suggestions:
    • 👩‍🍳 Variations:
    • 👍 Top tips
    • 📦 Storage
    • 🙋 FAQs
    • 😋 Check out my other quick and easy curry recipes
    • Leftover Turkey Curry with Coconut Milk
    A serving of 20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry with coconut milk

    This tasty turkey curry is inspired by my mother-in-law's turkey curry recipe that was passed down from her mother-in-law. I've simplified some aspects of it and added coconut milk to make it a little creamier.

    ✅ 5 reasons why you'll love this recipe:

    1. Quick and easy - on the table in 20 minutes.
    2. Uses simple everyday ingredients - you will be able to get everything you need to make this curry from your local store. You may even have most of the ingredients sitting in your pantry already.
    3. Reduces waste - the perfect way to use up the leftovers from a roast. You can also throw in your leftover veggies too.
    4. Flavourful - this creamy, slightly sweet and lightly spiced curry beats cold turkey sandwiches hands down.
    5. Versatile - this curry can be made with any leftover roast meat and can also be made with fresh chicken or turkey. It tastes great with hard-boiled eggs, and you can throw in your leftover veggies too. You can also use low-fat coconut milk for a lighter option.

    🦃 Turkey Leftovers

    It’s not uncommon to have leftover turkey after Christmas or Thanksgiving and be left wondering what to do with it. Thankfully there are lots of ways to put the leftovers to good use.

    Most people are not up for another long stint in the kitchen after they have cooked a large roast, which is why simple turkey sandwiches are a popular option. However, you probably don't want to be eating them for several days in a row and if you’ve got a lot of leftover turkey, this curry is a great option. It’s quick, uses simple everyday ingredients, and if you can’t face the thought of eating more turkey straight away it can be frozen and enjoyed later.

    🛒 Ingredients and substitutions:

    This tasty turkey curry is made with a few simple ingredients. You will be able to find all of them at your local store and probably have some of them in your kitchen already.

    • Rogan josh paste - I use Patak's, but any brand will do the job.
    • Coconut milk - the recipe has been tested with full fat, but you can also use a light / low fat version. The consistency of the curry might be thinner if you use a light coconut milk, so you might need to add an extra tablespoon of cornflour slurry.
    • Leftover turkey - you can also use fresh turkey or leftover roast chicken or goose.
    Ingredients

    🧑‍🍳 Leftover turkey curry in 3 simple steps

    1. Fry the onions and add the paste

    Place a pan on a medium heat and add oil. Add the onions when the oil is hot and fry until they are soft and translucent. Then add the curry paste and continue to cook for another minute or two.

    Fried onions with Rogan josh paste

    2. Simmer

    Pour on the chicken stock and coconut milk and bring to simmer. Then add the turkey and apple and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the eggs to the pan for the last 5 minutes if using.

    Simmering the curry with stock and coconut milk

    3. Thicken

    Mix the cornflour and water together in a small bowl, pour into the curry and stir until it starts to thicken. Serve with rice or naan, topped with fresh finely chopped coriander/cilantro.

    Thickening the curry with the slurry

    🍽 Serving suggestions:

    • Rice: this curry tastes great with basmati rice or pilau rice
    • Bread: naan, roti or parathas
    • Healthier options: try cauliflower rice for something lighter or serve with quinoa

    👩‍🍳 Variations:

    • No leftover turkey? No problem, you can also use leftover chicken, buy rotisserie chicken from the supermarket or cook some chicken from scratch.
    • Got leftover veggies? You can put them in the curry too. It's a great way to reduce waste and get some goodness into your body.
    • Wondering what to do with leftover gravy? Add it to the curry instead of stock.

    👍 Top tips

    1. Put leftover roast turkey in the fridge as soon as it cools - turkey can grow nasty bacteria if it is left out for too long.
    2. Add eggs if there's not enough leftover turkey to go around - boiled eggs are a tasty addition to this curry especially when there is not enough leftover turkey to feed everyone.
    3. Use low-fat coconut milk for a lighter alternative - Looking for a light meal after a big roast? Use light coconut milk instead of full fat. Note that this might make the curry sauce a little thinner, so you might need to add some additional slurry.
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry served with rice

    📦 Storage

    Can leftover turkey be reheated?

    Yes it can. As long as it reaches 75 C or 165 F it is safe to eat, but it's not advisable to reheat leftover turkey more than once.

    How long will leftover turkey keep in the fridge?

    You can store leftover turkey in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make sure you place it in the fridge as soon as it is cool.

    Can you freeze leftover turkey curry?

    You can freeze the curry for up to three months. Make sure you put it in the freezer as soon as it is cool. 

    Alternatively, you can freeze your leftover turkey and then make the curry at a later date. However, you can not refreeze the cooked curry if you do this. It’s not safe to make turkey curry with turkey that has already been frozen and defrosted.

    🙋 FAQs

    What can I do with day old turkey?

    Turkey sandwiches are the most common way to use up turkey leftovers, but there are also lots of other options including tacos, pasta dishes, salads, soup and curry.

    Can you freeze cooked turkey curry?

    Cooked turkey curry can be frozen for up to 3 months as long as it is not made from frozen turkey. Just portion it into airtight containers and freeze as soon as it is cool. Then defrost in the fridge and reheat on the stove or in the microwave until piping hot. Note that it is not safe to refreeze turkey that has already been frozen.

    How can you tell if leftover turkey has gone bad?

    Spoiled turkey leftovers may appear slimy and have a greenish/grey tinge. They will also have a bad smell. Usually, turkey has a subtle gamey smell, but when it’s off the smell will be much stronger than usual and it may also have an acrid ammonia odor.

    😋 Check out my other quick and easy curry recipes

    Curries are warming, delicious and nutritious. They also create tasty leftovers and freeze well. If you enjoyed this recipe, you'll love these other easy curry recipes too.

    • Roasted Butternut Squash & Chickpea Curry ready to serve
      Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Curry (with chickpeas)
    • Chicken Satay Curry
      Peanut Butter Chicken Curry (Easy 30 Minute Recipe)
    • Pork Katsu Curry
      Pork Katsu Curry
    • Cooked prawn curry in frying pan
      Easy Prawn Curry With Coconut Milk

    Did you try this recipe? It would be really great if you could leave a comment and a star rating ⭐️. I would love to receive your feedback and know that other readers find it helpful too.

    Don't forget to tag #knifeandsoulrecipes on Instagram or @knifeandsoul on Pinterest!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    20 Minute Leftover Turkey Curry

    Leftover Turkey Curry with Coconut Milk


    • Author: Helen
    • Prep Time: 5
    • Cook Time: 15
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 2-3 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    A creamy leftover turkey curry recipe with coconut milk that takes just 20 minutes to make. A delicious and easy way to use up leftover roast turkey.

    Serves 2 to 3.  Use the scaling buttons below to double or triple the quantity.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 tbsp groundnut or canola oil
    • ½ onion - chopped
    • 3 tbsp Rogan Josh Paste 
    • 400ml (or 1 + ⅔ cup) chicken stock
    • 200ml (or ¾ cup) coconut milk
    • 200g (leftover turkey - cut into small pieces (note 1)
    • 1 apple - peeled and cut into cubes
    • 2 hard-boiled eggs (optional)
    • 2 tbsp cornflour
    • 2 tbsp water
    • Chopped fresh coriander/cilantro to serve (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Place a pan on a medium heat, pour in the oil, add the chopped onion when the oil is hot and fry until soft and translucent.
    2. Add the curry paste and continue to cook for a couple of minutes.
    3. Pour in the chicken stock and coconut milk and bring to simmer.
    4.  Add the turkey and apple and simmer for 10 minutes.
    5. Add the boiled eggs for the last five minutes if using.
    6. Mix the cornflour and water in a small bowl, pour it into the curry, and stir until the sauce thickens.
    7. Serve with rice or naan topped with fresh chopped coriander/cilantro. 

    Notes

    1. Approx 2 cm or 1 inch.
    • Category: Curry
    • Method: stove-top
    • Cuisine: Western

    Keywords: Leftover Turkey Curry With Coconut Milk

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @knifeandsoulrecipes — I love to see what you make!

    « Roast Pumpkin Soup (without cream)
    Pesto Crusted Salmon »

    Share this recipe!

    4 shares
    • Share
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Helen! The creator of all the tasty, speedy and easy-to-follow recipes on Knife & Soul. I hope I can help you to add some deliciousness to your busy life today.

    More about me →

    Recent recipes

    • Servings of Singapore Noodles
      Singapore Chow Mein (Singapore Noodles)
    • Easy Cheesy Pasta Bake
      Seriously Cheesy Pasta Bake
    • Easy cheese quesadillas
      Easy Cheese Quesadilla (ready in 10 minutes)
    • Easy Lamb Keema Rice ready to serve
      Keema Rice (Easy 20-Minute Recipe)

    Follow Knife & Soul

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Never Miss A Recipe

    Categories

    • 15 minute dishes
    • 20 Minute Dishes
    • 30 Minutes
    • 5 ingredient recipes
    • Comfort food recipes
    • Easy Asian Inspired Recipes
    • Easy Peasy Curry Recipes
    • Fakeaway recipes
    • Fish & Seafood Recipes
    • Freezer friendly
    • Lunch and brunch recipes
    • One pan recipes
    • Pasta
    • Resources
    • Soup Recipes
    • Super Salad Recipes
    • Sweet
    • Veggie Dinner Recipes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me

    Stay in touch

    • Subscribe
    • Follow on Facebook
    • Follow on Instagram
    • Follow on Pinterest

    Recipes

    • Recipe Index
    • Web stories

    Copyright © 2022 Knife & Soul

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    4 shares