A rich, lightly spiced creamy curry with no ‘bits’. This easy leftover turkey curry echoes the flavours of butter chicken and is a fantastic way to use up shredded turkey. Ready in 30 minutes.
“This recipe was seriously delicious, and I can’t wait to make it again. Everyone commented on how tasty it was, and I was just lucky to fight off the competition for the last portion of it.”
– Rachel Gallagher
Nicky’s Notes
I always buy a generous turkey at Christmas because I love leftovers. We often enjoy turkey for days afterwards, but I avoid repeating the same dish by turning the meat into different meals.
This leftover turkey curry is rich, creamy and saucy, and it’s on the table in just 30 minutes. The whole family loves it.
Table of Contents
- Nicky’s Notes
- 📋 Ingredients
- Abbreviated Recipe
- Recipe Tips
- 🍽️ What to serve it with
- 🍲 More fantastic leftover turkey recipes
- Leftover Turkey Curry Recipe
📋 Ingredients
Turkey – Shreds or chunky pieces of leftover cooked turkey—use every bit of meat you have.
Curry Powder – A mild curry powder works well; choose a hotter variety if you prefer more heat.
Chicken Stock – Water and a stock cube are fine. You can also use homemade chicken or turkey stock.
Cardamom Pods – Tie them on a piece of string so they’re easy to remove after cooking.
Abbreviated Recipe
Full recipe details are in the recipe card below.
Puree onion and garlic, then fry in butter and oil with ginger until lightly golden. Add the spices, then pour in stock, passata, tomato purée, sugar and the tied cardamom pods. Simmer briefly, remove the cardamom, stir in the turkey and cream, heat through and serve.
Recipe Tips
Make a flavourful stock with leftover turkey bones to deepen the curry’s taste. Use that turkey stock in place of the chicken stock for an extra-robust flavour.
Boxing Day turkey curry is a wonderful tradition — warming, easy and comforting.
🍽️ What to serve it with
- Serve over pilau or plain boiled rice with a warm peshwari naan and a simple tomato-and-onion salad for brightness.
I also like to finish it with freshly chopped coriander and mini popadoms for crunch.
🍲 More fantastic leftover turkey recipes
Seasonal & Holiday
Leftover Turkey Pasta Bake with Ham and Cheese
Dinner
Leftover Turkey Risotto
Appetizers
Crispy Turkey Nachos
Seasonal & Holiday
Leftover Turkey Bolognese
Curries
Leftover Turkey Tikka Masala
Asian
Sweet and Sour Turkey
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Leftover Turkey Curry Recipe
10
20
30
Ingredients
- 450 g (1 lb) leftover cooked turkey
- 1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tsp minced ginger
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tbsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp mild curry powder (or hotter to taste)
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- 120 ml (½ cup) chicken stock
- 400 ml (14 oz) passata
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 tsp sugar
- 6 cardamom pods, tied on a string
- 175 ml (¾ cup) double cream (heavy cream)
To Serve:
- boiled or pilau rice
- chopped coriander (cilantro)
- thinly sliced red onion or crispy fried onions
Instructions
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Chop or shred the leftover turkey into chunky pieces.
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Place the roughly chopped onion and garlic in a food processor and blend until smooth.
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Heat the butter and oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
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Add the onion–garlic purée and minced ginger to the pan and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to brown at the edges.
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Stir in salt, garam masala, curry powder, paprika and cinnamon. Cook for 1–2 minutes until the spices become fragrant.
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Add the stock, passata, tomato puree, sugar and the tied cardamom pods. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
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Remove the cardamom, then fold in the shredded turkey and the cream. Heat gently for about 5 minutes until warmed through, stirring occasionally.
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Serve over rice and sprinkle with chopped coriander and thinly sliced red onion or crispy fried onions.
Notes
Can I replace the cream?
Yes. Use canned coconut milk for a lighter finish or canned coconut cream for richer results. For a lighter curry, stir in natural yogurt at the end and heat gently—do not boil or the sauce may split.
Can I add vegetables?
Yes. Add chopped peppers, mushrooms or green beans once the onions are lightly browned and cook them for a few minutes before continuing. Quick-cook greens like spinach or frozen peas can be added in the last couple of minutes.
Nutritional information is per serving (this recipe serves 4).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
This Leftover Turkey Curry recipe was first posted in Dec 2024 and has been updated with small improvements.
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