Like daylight financial savings and quarter life crises, post-Thanksgiving turkey is inexplicable however unavoidable. With all one of the best bits (golden pores and skin, neatly carved slices) already plundered, that chilly container of leftover scraps seems just like the backs of my palms in winter—dry, leathery, picked at. So what are we gonna do with it?
I’ve accomplished the “make a giant pot of inventory” factor. Which, nice, however nobody warns you of the disturbingly moist, squelchy mulch left behind or the hunt for 13 hundred containers to deal with all this inventory. It’s a move for me. I’ve additionally repurposed my leftover turkey into delicate congee with frozen corn, pasta with mushrooms and cream, slippery glass noodles with tons of chili crisp. Every extraordinarily scrumptious however by all of it, it’s a turkey sandwich that I come again to yearly.
Perhaps you’re pondering, I don’t want you to inform me a couple of turkey sandwich; I could make one standing in entrance of the fridge. This one is totally different, I promise. My leftover turkey soften is modeled after an old school, diner-style tuna soften. It’s greater than a cobbled-together concoction of slippery meat and congealed cranberry sauce. It’s heat, melty, toasted, gooey—a scorching mess in the very best means. The type of factor that for as soon as makes you hope, even pray, for leftovers. Your reward for yet one more Thanksgiving below your belt, extra pleasant than the primary occasion, like that chunk of chocolate on the backside of your ice cream cone.
This isn’t the time for crusty, seedy bread
Many sandwiches later, I’ve discovered sliced white sourdough holds up finest. Common, bagged sandwich bread will get soggy below the burden of the filling. Something seedy or crusty doesn’t have the correct amount of squish and can lower the roof of your mouth if you go to take a chunk.
Shred your turkey as an alternative of dicing it
Shred the turkey by hand as an alternative of chopping it with a knife. Intention for small-ish items and don’t fear about consistency. Irregular strands take in the mayo extra readily and gained’t slip and slide out of your sandwich. I’ve made this additionally with rotisserie rooster with smashing success.
Veggies (pickled peppers particularly) are a should
Finely chopped celery is a cool, refreshing respite from the richness of every little thing else. Scallions and a goodly quantity of herbs say, “I like inexperienced issues and unironically utilizing the phrase vegetal.” Lemon zest is all sunshine and sparkles. And the one that you just completely can’t skip: pickled peppers. I’m a fan of pickled jalapenos from a can (not a jar), however you’ll be able to select any pickled pepper. Selfmade or store-bought; spicy or not; banana or cherry; Greek or Spanish or Italian. As long as they’re vinegary and spicy, they are going to put the sandwich on a spaceship and ship it to the moon.
Don’t make me defend American cheese once more
High-quality! I’ll. I’ve stated it earlier than and I shan’t cease now––American cheese deserves your respect. My go-to is Kraft Deli Deluxe (which is all actual cheese), or when you have extra persistence, get some sliced to order from the deli. Cheddar can attempt, however American offers your sandwich a degree of adhesion and ooze no different cheese can fairly replicate.
Griddled on a scorching pan, turkey melts are enjoyable and filling, common of their enchantment. A scrumptious sandwich that feels intentional and thought out—nearly like you acquire too huge of a chicken for this very motive. So add a can of pickled peppers and a pack of cheese to your buying record this week. You’ll remorse nothing.
