By Casa de Suna
Published Nov 18
Every year, when the holidays come around, we find ourselves excitedly preparing for every single aspect of the big days themselves–from shopping for weeks in advance of Christmas to scouting out the best turkey we can find for Thanksgiving.
But there’s an aspect of the holidays we used to get too busy to focus on, and, once we did, it changed the game: repurposing leftovers.
As a holiday centered around an autumnal bounty of food, Thanksgiving is one of our favorite meals. That’s why we’d be remiss not to share our top tips for repurposing the leftovers–because there’s no reason you only need to enjoy a meal like this just once a year.
The Harvest Sandwich
We couldn’t start this leftovers recipe roundup without a turkey-centric option for everyone to enjoy. Our absolute favorite way to make the most of our leftovers? By slicing up some turkey and enjoying it in a sandwich with (if possible, freshly made) sourdough bread, cranberry sauce, and brie. It’s easy to assemble and it tastes like fall in sandwich form.
Creamy Potato Gratin
If you bought a few too many potatoes in anticipation of particularly ravenous guests, fear not: we’ve got a home for them in the form of our delicious, indulgent potato gratin. And is there anything more festive than the scent of rosemary wafting through your home as you cook?
Turkey Soup
If you eat meat, you’re going to be faced with a very specific reality once the turkey is carved: how should one dispose of it? In the interest of producing as little food waste as possible, we personally love boiling the carcass with onions, carrots, potatoes and celery on the stove. If you don’t add potatoes, you can freeze this soup and enjoy it all winter long. It’s incredibly simple, delicious, healthy, and sustainable. We couldn’t recommend it more.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Leftover canned pumpkin from your pie-making pursuits? Consider it useful again: it’s a nutrient-dense ingredient that makes the perfect base for a power-packed smoothie. We love goop’s creamy yet healthy option so much, we might just start making this year round.
Bean Salad
If you’ve got leftover green beans, there are plenty more ways to enjoy them than simply heating them in the microwave. We love chopping them up and mixing them with red beans, great Northern beans, chopped red onion, a bit of mint, and a light olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing for a perfect, healthy post-Thanksgiving lunch.
Hazelnut and Cranberry Thumbprint Cookies
Okay, so this isn’t necessarily a leftovers tip. But, while we have you here, we can’t resist mentioning one of our favorite fall treats: our cranberry hazelnut thumbprint cookies. They’re packed with festive flavor, nutty and chewy at the same time, and the perfect alternative to some of the heavier desserts that often sit on the Thanksgiving table. Try them, and we promise you’ll be convinced.
Did you try any of our leftovers hacks? Tag us on social media using #casadesuna
