4.45 from 27 votes

Turkey Thai Curry

Hi everyone, Nicky here, calling in from Kitchen Sanctuary with a recipe to use up your Christmas leftovers!

This Turkey Thai Curry is the perfect weeknight meal that is a delicious way for using up that leftover turkey. A 20-minute savory dinner dish that you can have ready to serve your family in a hurry. 

Rich Thai curry paste, red and green peppers, lemongrass paste, and leftover turkey come together for the best Thai curry recipe. Pair with tender rice, and you have an easy turkey curry dish. 

We all see those leftover turkey loaded sandwiches, casseroles, or pot pie recipes feeding into our social feeds. But, step out of the box and try this Thai turkey curry. It will breathe a breath of fresh air into your dinner, and truly make you not feel like you are eating leftovers. 

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    You’ll also love this Leftover Turkey Soup.

    Turkey Thai Curry - Great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.


    Quick and Easy Turkey Thai Curry 

    When I go to make Thai curry, I will reach for a store-bought paste. On occasion, you will find I make my own.  I see that the results are so similar, that the choice is up to you on which you prefer. For me, sometimes buying store bought paste allows me less time in the kitchen, which is a massive win for me on those busy weeknights. 

    I like to use ‘Thai Taste’ or ‘Blue Dragon’ red Thai curry paste for this, but they do have a bit of heat to them. If you’re making this for kids or others who don’t like their food too spicy, then I’d suggest using a mild Indian paste – such as Patak’s Tikka curry paste. Sounds a little strange to use an Indian-style paste in a Thai curry, but it does taste great.

    Turkey Thai Curry - Great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.

    Adding Vegetables to Your Turkey  Thai Curry Recipe 

    I’ve added peppers to my leftover turkey curry, but if you’ve got other leftover cooked or un-cooked vegetables then throw them in. Brocolli and green beans work well, but I’d even go so far as throwing a couple of leftover roast potatoes in (Massaman curry has potatoes in after all!). If they’re already cooked, just add them for the last few minutes of cooking.

    Which is Hotter Red or Green Curry 

    You will find that a red curry most generally offers less heat than the green curry recipes. Now if you go to the west, you will see that the red curry is way spicier, and the green curry is a bit more mellow. So, depending on where you live, will depend on the variance of how they traditionally make curry. 

    Turkey Thai Curry - Great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.

    Is Red Thai Curry Hot

    My Turkey Thai Curry does pack some heat factor. I use a red curry paste for this recipe. So it does pack that spicy flavor paired with the bit of sweet. It is a nice blend of sweet and spicy. 

    How to Tame Down the Heat in Turkey Thai Curry 

    Reach for an Indian Tikka paste to replace the red curry paste. This can help lessen the heat but still give you the warmth that you are used to in curry. 

    Turkey Thai Curry - Great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.

    Is Thai Curry Healthy 

    When you count the lean turkey meat next to the vegetables, it makes for a great base of a healthy meal. But, because of the full-fat coconut milk being used, and serving over rice, it can add in some fat and calories you need to take into account.

    You can reach for cauliflower rice to serve for a lower carb option. This will cut out some carbs from the white rice. 

    How to Make Turkey Thai Curry 

    Start by grabbing a large skillet. Add in your chopped red and yellow peppers. 

    Cook on a medium heat setting for around two minutes to help tenderize the peppers. 

    Next, you want to add in your garlic, ginger, and lemongrass paste along with your pre-cooked turkey. Stir for a minute and then add in your curry paste. 

    Allow the curry paste to mix in with the turkey and veggies. Allow the curry to cook for a minute or two to blend well. 

    Then grab your coconut milk and stock and allow it to come to a bubble. Try to not let it to boil, if you see it beginning to boil, lower the heat setting. 

    Simmer for around 10 minutes, then stir in the brown sugar, fish sauce, and your lime juice. 

    Give it a taste, and if needed drizzle in more lime juice, and sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

    What to Serve with Turkey Thai Curry 

     You have a handful of options when serving up your Thai turkey curry.

    • Rice | You can do a scoop of rice, that you have as the bed to your curry. If you want a lower carb dish, reach for cauliflower rice as well. You can make your own or buy it in the fridge or freezer section. 
    • Naan Bread | Pair it with Naan bread for dipping and cleaning up all that flavorful sauce. 
    • Cucumber Salad | To help bring in some cool to the heat of the curry and freshness. 
    • Chapati Bread | This is an unleavened flatbread that many use to eat with chicken curry. Since the turkey offers such a similar taste, it would make tasty serving bread. 

    This curry is such a simple and easy meal to prepare and serve up. Taste better than ordering takeout from your favorite restaurant, and you end up with leftovers by making it at home! You can easily swap the turkey for chicken if you have leftover chicken on hand. Either way, this Thai Turkey Curry will please your taste buds. 

    Have you ever made a Turkey Thai Curry before? 

    Turkey Thai Curry - Great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.

    You’ll also love Slow Cooker Butter Chicken, Sweet Chili Chicken Thai Pizza and Thanksgiving Sliders.

    4.45 from 27 votes

    Turkey Thai Curry

    Created by Stacie Vaughan
    Servings 4
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 14 minutes
    Total Time 24 minutes
    Great way to use leftover turkey! This weeknight meal is a 20-minute dish with the flavors of an all-day simmer.

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 red bell pepper deseeded and chopped
    • 1 yellow bell pepper deseeded and chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
    • 1 tsp minced ginger
    • 1 tsp lemongrass paste optional
    • 2 cups leftover sliced turkey
    • 2 tbsp red thai curry paste or replace with Indian tikka paste if you don’t want a hot curry
    • 1 can coconut milk 14oz can, full fat
    • ¼ cup chicken stock water with half a stock cube is fine
    • 1 tsp brown sugar
    • 1 tsp fish sauce
    • juice of 1 lime
    • small bunch fresh cilantro roughly torn

    To Serve

    • boiled rice
    • lime wedges
    • extra fresh cilantro

    Instructions

    • Heat the oil in a large skillet and add in the chopped red and yellow peppers. Cook on a medium heat for two minutes, then add in the garlic, ginger, lemongrass paste and cooked turkey. Stir gently for one minute, then add in the curry paste. Stir to coat the chicken and allow to heat through for one minute.
    • Add in the coconut milk and stock and bring to a gently bubble (but don’t let it boil). Let it simmer gently for 10 minutes, then stir through the brown sugar, fish sauce and lime juice. Taste and add more lime juice if required, then turn off the heat and sprinkle over the chopped cilantro. Serve immediately with boiled rice, lime wedges and extra cilantro.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 1692mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Course Main Dishes
    Cuisine American
    Keyword Turkey Thai Curry

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    Recipe Rating




    26 Comments

    1. Substitute ground lemongrass for lemongrass paste, if yes… how much?

      1. The lemongrass paste is optional so you can leave it out if you like. If using the ground lemongrass, I’d use 1/2 teaspoon.

    2. I would have loved this recipie for my potluck! Too bad when I copy and paste just the ingredients, I get a whole much of added text from the ads and article that I didnt even want.

      1. Hi Jenny, There is a printable recipe card in the post. If you click Jump to recipe at the bottom you’ll see it. Then you can print just the recipe.

    3. Wendy Gurd says:

      5 stars
      A fantastic way to use left over turkey. Loved it. Will use recipe again using chicken

    4. 4 stars
      Good basic recipe to work from. I added curry and coriander and doubled the red paste. I also added green beans and chopped up spinach along with some garbanzo beans I had in the fridge that needed to get used up. It turned out delicious but needs some treaking

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