James Martin’s Affordable Ideas for Christmas Leftovers

Words and Image James Martin and Barclaycard http://www.facebook.com/barclaycard)

James Martin shares some imaginative culinary ideas for those Christmas leftovers that will stretch further than the common turkey sandwiches . . .

Bubble and squeak
You can put all of the leftover vegetables to good use by knocking up some classic bubble and squeak. Add onion and streaky bacon to your mixed veg (parsnips, beans, sprouts, carrots, cabbage etc) salt, pepper and mashed potato into a bowl. Heat up a pan using a knob of butter and separate the mixture into six portions coated with flour. Place the cakes into a baking tray and once cooked for 25 minutes, fry off in a pan until golden and crispy.

The best turkey sandwich
Why not use all that turkey to make the ultimate turkey sandwich. Just shred up the meat, add some of the left over stuffing, butter two slices of chunky bread and layer up on a bed of fresh lettuce, cucumber, lashings of mayo, and some cranberry sauce. Try sampling some other toppings such as avocado and brie to find your favourite to make the most of that delicious meat.

Turkey and leek pie
This pie is the perfect leftover recipe, you can add almost anything to it! Start by adding flour to some melted butter and slowly combining chicken stock to make a sauce. Add the turkey pieces, ham, leek, season with salt and pepper, place in the bottom of an ovenproof dish and pour over the sauce. Roll out some ready made pastry and top the pie, glaze with a beaten egg, then bake for 35 minutes at 220°C.

Turkey curry
How about whipping up a nice turkey curry in no time at all. Simply pick up a jar of some good quality curry paste and coconut milk, and then fry off some onions with any of the leftover vegetables. Once softened add in the turkey with some seasoning and add the coconut milk with some stock and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve up with boiled rice and to freshen up add a squeeze of lime and some chopped coriander.

Gnocchi
These Italian dumplings are a classic and one of the best ways to use up your mashed potato. Make sure the mash is completely lump free, use a sieve to ensure this, and then mix up with some flour, seasoning and one beaten egg to make a dough. Leave to rest for 20 minutes then roll out into a long sausage and cut into 2.5cm pieces. Use a fork to squash down the pieces and boil them in salted water in batches. Cook for 5 minutes until they rise to the surface and serve with some pesto or a good quality tomato sauce.

Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon
Use up the leftover cream for luxurious scrambled eggs and if you have any smoked salmon just add to the plate for a luxurious Boxing Day breakfast. Take 3 eggs, mix in the cream, season with salt and pepper and whisk up. Then cook in a hot pan, leaving to sit for 20 seconds before stirring, serve up on toasted bread and top with smoked salmon.

Stilton and walnut tart
Use up those Christmas day staples of Stilton and walnuts in a wonderfully simple tart. For your filling, simply add to a mixing bowl some sliced cooked potatoes with crumbled Stilton and chopped walnuts with any leftover spinach. Line an ovenproof dish with short crust pastry and blind bake for 10 minutes, and then beat up 2 or 3 eggs with some cream. Place the ingredients for your pie in its casing and pour over the egg mixture. Bake for 35 minutes or until the tart is set. Leave to cool and serve.

Christmas pudding muffins
Make up some delicious muffins with leftover Christmas pudding by breaking up your leftover Christmas pudding into a bowl with an egg, milk, salted butter, plain flour, baking powder, mixed spice and caster sugar before mixing well and spooning into paper cases and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Then top with your favourite butter icing.