Thanksgiving Dinner Reincarnated as the Best Turkey Hash Recipe (2024)

Thanksgiving Dinner Reincarnated as the Best Turkey Hash Recipe (1)

Remarkably, 88 out of 100 people in the U.S. eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day, according to the National Turkey Foundation. So you can safely conclude 88 people out of 100 will be hungering for leftovers on Black Friday, formerly known as The-Day-After-Thanksgiving.

Personally, I can't wait for leftovers, which rise, phoenix-like, from the chaos of Thanksgiving dinner. Hopefully, you have plenty on hand. Some forward-thinking people even roast an extra bird—or at least a turkey breast—in anticipation.

All this month, I've been sharing some of my favorite ways to cook turkey on the grill. You've mastered my spit-roasted adobo-marinated Cuban turkey with mojo. You've brined the bird in bourbon and smoked it over maple wood. You've even cooked turkey on an oversize beer can. I hope you've managed to squirrel away a pound or four of the cooked turkey meat for post-Thanksgiving meals.

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Here are some suggested uses:

  • Being from Miami, it's natural to reimagine a Cubano. Build a sandwich using mayo, mustard, sliced turkey, thinly sliced ham, dill pickle slices, and Swiss cheese on a hero or sub roll. Butter the outside of the bun, and grill the sandwich under a grill press over a medium flame until the cheese melts.
  • Cook up a batch of ramen (c'mon, you know you want to) and fortify it with shredded turkey, thinly sliced scallions, minced fresh ginger, slivered carrots, soy sauce, and slivered shiso (perilla) or Thai basil.
  • Make a savory bread pudding: Cube leftover turkey and combine with leftover stuffing. Bind with beaten egg (roughly 1 egg per 2 cups of stuffing, depending on how moist your stuffing is), pack into a baking dish, and bake at 350 degrees until crusty on top.
  • Sprinkle shredded cheese on half of a tortilla and top with shredded turkey, sliced scallions, pickled jalapeno slices, and fresh cilantro leaves (optional). Salt the quesadilla lightly, then fold over (making a half-moon shape) and grill over medium heat, turning once, until the cheese melts. Cut into wedges and serve with sour cream and/or salsa.
  • But my favorite use for Thanksgiving leftovers: turkey hash. (Get the recipe for Smoked Turkey Hash.)

    The English word "hash" comes from the French verb hacher, "to chop." (Yeah, it's the same etymological root as that chopping device favored by George Washington, the hatchet.)

    Hash originated as a way to use up leftovers, but it now turns up not just at hash houses (a nickname for diners) but at highfalutin restaurants from coast to coast. There are two schools of thought in making hash. One school consists of the grinders, who like to chop the ingredients to a fine harmonious mush. The other school takes a more pointillistic approach, leaving the ingredients in large pieces so you can appreciate the flavor and texture of each. My personal preference runs to the latter—especially when it comes to turkey hash, ideally made with meaty chunks of smoked turkey left over from Thanksgiving dinner.

    Do you have your own ideas for leftovers? Share them and your photos on the Barbecue Board.

    READ THESE BOOKS BY STEVEN RAICHLEN:

    Steven Raichlen is the author of the Barbecue! Bible cookbook series and the host of Primal Grill on PBS. His web site is www.barbecuebible.com.

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    Thanksgiving Dinner Reincarnated as the Best Turkey Hash Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    What is turkey hash made of? ›

    This turkey hash recipe follows that resourceful formula, featuring diced turkey, onion, and potatoes along with celery, bell pepper, and parsley. It's made even more delicious with turkey gravy and will quickly use up any leftovers from your big holiday meals.

    What can I make for Thanksgiving dinner instead of turkey? ›

    Whatever the reason, here are 20 Thanksgiving recipes for a turkey-free table.
    • Roast Chicken With Maple Butter and Rosemary. Image. ...
    • Beef Wellington. Image. ...
    • Ombré Gratin. Image. ...
    • Skillet Pork Chops and Apples With Miso Caramel. Image. ...
    • Samosa Pie. Image. ...
    • Maple-Baked Salmon. Image. ...
    • Lasagna. Image. ...
    • Ina Garten's Make-Ahead Coquilles St.
    Nov 10, 2022

    What is better than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

    Cornish game hen, goose, duck, ham, beef, salmon, and mushroom recipes make worthy centerpieces for holiday meals. This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors.

    What is the main ingredient in hash? ›

    Hash is a dish consisting of chopped meat, potatoes, and fried onions.

    What is traditionally in hash? ›

    To make the hash you want approximately equal amounts of cooked beef, raw potato, and onion. The amounts listed here in the ingredient list are approximations. Scale up or down as needed. A grinder makes a big difference here because of the way it grinds the beef into the onions and potatoes.

    What ingredient list for turkey dinner? ›

    Ingredients
    • 2 tablespoons dried parsley.
    • 2 tablespoons ground dried rosemary.
    • 2 tablespoons rubbed dried sage.
    • 2 tablespoons dried thyme leaves.
    • 1 tablespoon lemon-pepper seasoning.
    • 1 tablespoon salt.
    • 1 (15 pound) whole turkey, neck and giblets removed.
    • 1 medium orange, cut into 8 wedges.
    Nov 13, 2023

    What is America's favorite Thanksgiving side dish? ›

    These are the most popular Thanksgiving sides across the U.S.: Mashed potatoes: The top spot goes to mashed potatoes! While this may be unsurprising (especially with how downright delicious mashed potatoes are), last year the side dish was in second place.

    What do you say instead of "Happy Thanksgiving"? ›

    "May all the good things of life be yours, not only on this day but throughout the coming year." "Wishing you a harvest of blessings, good health and good times." "May you enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving, a joyous holiday season and healthful, Happy New Year."

    What is an adult female turkey called? ›

    Adult female turkeys are called hens. Juvenile females are called jennies.

    What do you call a group of turkeys? ›

    Adult male turkeys are called toms, and females are called hens. Very young wild turkeys are called poults, juvenile males are jakes, and juvenile females are jennies. A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock.

    Is a Butterball turkey better? ›

    Butterball turkeys are of the highest quality product and will be sure to impress your guests. Here's why Butterball is the right choice, especially for the holiday season: Butterball turkeys are always tender and juicy because we take the extra step of individually pre-brining them based on size.

    What is the most important meal on Thanksgiving? ›

    Turkey. Some would say a turkey is the most important food item at the table. A turkey is the center of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, 88 percent of Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, with 46 million Turkeys eaten on the holiday.

    What is the main meal for most Americans on Thanksgiving? ›

    Main Course: Turkey . . . for Days

    The Thanksgiving turkey, perhaps most famously depicted as the centerpiece of Norman Rockwell's 1943 Freedom from Want, is an iconic image for Americans. Today, it remains a popular choice for most Americans.

    What is traditional hash made of? ›

    Hashish—or hash—originates in the Middle East, Pakistan, North Africa, and Afghanistan. Hashish is made of the most resinous parts of the cannabis plant that are compressed, creating a higher concentrate product. The end product is typically in a cake, ball, or cookie-like sheet that users break off and smoke.

    What is hash meat made of? ›

    Like yellow mustard-based sauce, hash is a distinctive feature of the South Carolina barbecue style. A sort of cross between a thick gravy and a stew, it's made from pork and (often) various pig organs and is usually served over white rice, though sometimes grits or bread are used instead.

    What are the contents of hash? ›

    Hash values can be thought of as fingerprints for files. The contents of a file are processed through a cryptographic algorithm, and a unique numerical value – the hash value - is produced that identifies the contents of the file.

    What is inside hash? ›

    Hashish or hash is made from the resin (a secreted gum) of the cannabis plant. It is dried and pressed into small blocks and smoked. It can also be added to food and eaten. The resin is rich in THC, the main mind-altering ingredient found in the cannabis plant. Marijuana also comes from the cannabis plant.

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