I get kind of bummed out during the holidays.I don't know about you, but every year I have to look for new and better Thanksgiving turkey leftovers recipes.
I like to sometimes take a break from eating holiday food. I like to switch it up, so we go out for Mexican food.
But now I live so far away from my favorite Mexican restaurant, Xochimilco, a restaurant in Mexican Town in Detroit. So, it's no longer convenient to go there.
A few years ago, that got me to thinking... Why not stay at home and turn turkey leftovers into Mexican food? Why not use leftover turkey in one of my authentic enchilada recipes?
I mean, really... There's only so many leftover turkey recipes (and turkey stuffing recipes made from turkey leftovers), reheated and retooled from turkey that have been turned into chipped turkey on toast, and turkey salad, that a person can take. Right?
I know I can't be the only one. Don't you get sick of eating boring turkey leftovers after Thanksgiving and Christmas?
With this recipe for turkey enchiladas made with leftovers there's no need for a turkey calculator or for Butterball turkey roasting time, and questions like... "How long to cook a turkey?"
Because cooking Thanksgiving turkey has already been done. And unlike typical hour-after-hour turkey cooking time, this recipe for turkey enchiladas is one that makes easy, quick and delicious enchiladas from leftover turkey from your holiday turkey dinner.
You don't have to wonder, "How long can you eat turkey leftovers?", "How long can you keep turkey leftovers?", or "How long do turkey leftovers last?" And you won't have to buy extra freezer bags for freezing leftover turkey, either. Because this turkey enchiladas recipe is a popular request at my house.
So, if your family likes Mexican food - I bet it will be popular at your house, too. In fact, I make turkey dinner off and on throughout the year just to be able to prepare this turkey and cheese enchiladas recipe with the leftover turkey meat. Be prepared to get the same request, yourself!
When you're a rice lover, make more than the recipe requires.
Use low-fat cheese and turn this dish into low fat turkey enchiladas. Smother the enchiladas in lots of salsa verde (green salsa) and cheese and you've made a delicious Mexican turkey enchilada casserole. Don't forget to add sour cream.
Cater-Hater Tip: When you make this turkey enchilada recipe, double it. This is one of the better easy turkey leftover recipes, so they go really fast! And make a simple-to-make homemade enchilada sauce recipe to go with it.
Turkey Enchiladas
(Printable Recipe)
Serves 8
3 cups of cubed, cooked leftover turkey
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup cooked long grain rice
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup canned chopped green chilies
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 flour tortillas (10 inch)
1 can (28 oz.) green enchilada sauce, divided
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
1.) In a large saucepan, combine first 10 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove from heat.
2.) Place 1/2 cup turkey mixture down center of each tortilla; top each one with 1 tsp. enchilada sauce and 1 tbsp. cheese. Roll up and place seam side down in a greased 13 inch x 9 inch baking dish. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over top; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
3.) Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover, bake 8 to 10 minutes longer or until bubbly.
There are a lot of great recipes available, from recipes using leftover turkey to leftover ham recipes. And because so many people are hungry and out of work, please don't throw away any good food.
If you're not crazy about leftovers, but love to cook - use this leftover turkey recipe for turkey enchiladas and turn your perfectly good leftovers into something wonderful. Then give them to a busy, single mother with kids or a senior who can't cook and doesn't get out much anymore. Or drop it off at your local soup kitchen.
Share the spirit of giving! The reason for the season is to give!
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Chocolate Soup
Holiday Clementine Trifle
Holiday Eggnog Cheesecake
Keeping the Peace at your Holiday Party
Broth, Cook, Cooking, Coriander, Home, Meat, Mexican cuisine, Onion, Poultry, Sour cream, Tomato, Tortilla, Food, Blog, Blogging, Weblog, Blogs: Technorati Tags
