Recipe: Make stock and congee with all that leftover turkey

Your crazy family came and went. Now all that’s left is a big ol’ turkey carcass. Wait, don’t throw anything away just yet. In this time and age when offal eating has become the trend, I’m going to show you what you can do with all those leftover turkey bones.First, you make turkey stock. Duh! Then, you use that stock to make turkey congee.Every Asian country has its own version of rice porridge. It’s the ultimate Asian comfort food. Think of the Americans with their chicken noodle soup. Well, the Asians have their rice porridge. It’s what you feed someone under the weather. I admit I used to hate congee or chao (as it’s called in Vietnamese) because it was all my mama let me eat when I was sick. Incidentally, I grew to associate congee only with illness. Of course it left a negative impression on me. But now that I’ve got no mama to cook me homemade congee, I had to roll up my sleeves and do it myself. Now I don’t necessarily eat congee just when I’m sick; I’ll eat it when it’s cold out. (Speaking of which, Houston is finally starting to feel like winter. Yippee!) I eat it because it’s hearty, warm, and best of all, simple to make. I almost always have the ingredients on hand to make congee, but even if I don’t, the great thing about congee is its versatility. You can just about throw anything into it. Perhaps the only requirement is stock or broth and rice. (I’ve even seen some people cook congee with plain water but I don’t recommend this—too plain.)So read on, and learn how to make turkey stock with that leftover carcass and then, subsequently, turkey congee. And remember, if the Blind can Cook it, so can you. Happy winter eating! 

: Turkey Stock

: Stock can be made from any animal's bones, but I especially like poultry stock made from chicken, duck, or turkey.

 

1. 1 bird carcass
2. 2 to 3 carrots, chopped into 2" pcs.
3. 2 to 3 celery stalks, cut into 2" pcs.
4. 1 med. onion, chopped
5. 1 to 2 bay leaves

 

1. If necessary, chop bones so they will fit into a stockpot. Place bones into a stockpot and fill with enough water to cover. Add carrots, celery, onion, and bay leaves. Bring almost to a boil but do not let it boil.
2. Reduce heat. In the first hr., skim off any scum that floats to the surface. Cover and let simmer for approx 3 hrs.
3. Turn off heat and let cool. Strain through a mesh sieve into containers, leaving 1/2" space at the top. (This is to prevent the containers from busting when the stock expands in the freezer.) Discard bones and vegetables.
4. Refrigerate overnight. Spoon out and discard any gelatenous fat that solidifies at the top before using or freezing.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)Cooking time: 3 hour(s)

: Turkey Congee

: Chao is the Vietnamese term for congee.

 

1. 1 c. uncooked jasmine rice
2. 4 to 6 c. turkey stock
3. 3/4 c. leftover turkey meat, shredded
4. 1/2 med. onion, chopped
5. 1 sm. pc. ginger, minced
6. 1 to 2 carrots, peeled & finely chopped (optional)
7. 2 tbsp. fish sauce or to taste
8. 1 scallion, finely chopped
9. a few sprigs cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
10. ground black pepper

 

1. In a med. saucepan, combine rice, stock, turkey meat, onion, ginger, and carrots if using. Bring to a low boil.
2. Reduce heat and add fish sauce. Cover and let simmer for approx. 25 min. or until rice reaches desired consistency. Season with ground black pepper and more fish sauce to taste. Garnish with scallion and cilantro. Serve hot.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)Cooking time: 30 minute(s)