Man, some of you out there are doing some darn creative things to meld Viet and American culture. Over the weekend, I received a quick email from Kim L. who repurposed Thanksgiving leftovers to make turkey pho. She used the chicken pho recipe from my cookbook, Into the Vietnamese Kitchen. I've posted the chicken pho recipe on this site.
Despite my putting down turkey a couple weeks ago (my husband braised a grass-fed beef brisket for Thanksgiving), I wholeheartedly respect/appreciate what Kim did. I wouldn't call Kim's turkey pho faux pho. It's not remotely like Rachel Ray's phunky pho made with barbecue pork.
In addition to turning a roast turkey carcass into pho noodle soup, you can also use the meat for banh mi sandwiches, bun rice noodle bowls, rice paper rolls, and stir-fried silver-pin noodles. Those are just a few Asian dishes where you can vary the protein and not lose sight of the foundational flavors.
Thanks, Kim for broadening our palates!
If you have neat ideas on how you re-used Thanksgiving leftovers with an Asian flair, do share them below!
Jeanette says
We make turkey congee the morning after Thanksgiving. I add carrots, onion, celery, bay leaf and peppercorns to the turkey bones and water when making the turkey broth, and used brown rice to make it healthier.
Thuy says
My parents made cha lua with turkey one year. They were making a healthier version of it but it turned out so dry.
Andrea Nguyen says
Jeannette: what a great and healthy idea. I bet you got a nice earthy congee.
Thuy: I think that your parents and my parents are connected!
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THT says
I made Com Chien with leftover Thanksgiving Ham. It was delicious!
Shuku says
The very last Thanksgiving I had (was it really seven years ago now? Dear lord...) I used the turkey carcass for a big pot of soup with apples added for sweetness, and potatoes and carrots if I remember. The rest of the meat I turned into some sort of stir-fry or other, but you know, it never occured to me to make congee out of it. GREAT idea from Jeanette! I'll remember to do that with the roast chicken I'm planning on making...maybe this weekend to tide me over for 2 weeks of intensive study.
And Andrea, thank you so much for dropping by! I have learned so much from your site in such a short time (and that is why I have excellent fish sauce and com now!)
Andrea Nguyen says
THT: Com Chien and T-day ham can be a year-round treat.
Shuku: Keep up the good work at your blogs and keep on cooking tasty food for yourself, friends and family.
Lili says
In our house, my mother always took the carcass and made a stock for Mi (egg noodle soup)the next day. As happy as I am that many more Americans are totally embracing pho (especially my sweet Caucasian husband), I would like to make the case for a bowl of exceptional Mi. Hope you plan to explore it too!
Amy says
Well I use the leftover for empanada and samosa. Instead of chicken Chinese turkey salad and Chinese dim sum call chicken pie but turkey is used.
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I am hearing about empanada for the first time. How is it prepared?
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Thanksgiving Leftover Menu says
Turkey Pho <3, another recipe where I can use Leftover Turkey, I will make sure that I will got a leftover turkey this coming thanksgiving so I could try this,