Elevate Holiday Leftovers

November 14, 2023

By Lydia Zerby

As the holidays approach, hearty meats, savory side dishes and delectable desserts will soon grace family dinner tables. When serving large meals for a crowd, leftovers are almost inevitable. To avoid “leftover fatigue,” we’ve put together a buffet of satisfying recipes that will bring new life to holiday meal ingredients.

We share how after a perfectly cooked turkey shines as the star of a meal, it can be transformed into Asian-inspired dishes, including orange turkey and Thanksgiving ramen. A savory and tender ham turns into a weeknight Cuban braid or edamame, cheese and ham frittata. Cooking steak or prime rib this year? Try a new salad recipe that perfectly pairs beef with crunchy vegetables, sweet fruits and a tangy dressing.

Food is the center of holiday meals and get-togethers. Special family recipes and innovative creations bring everyone to the dinner table to share time and laughter. With Iowa being a top-producing state in many staple holiday ingredients, we can give thanks to Iowa farmers as they likely had a hand in creating your holiday meal.

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Orange Turkey | Iowa Turkey Federation

Turkey is the star of numerous holiday meals, and many families choose to cook a large bird to benefit from leftover meat. Switch up turkey’s flavor profile with this Asian-inspired dish. Turkey breast is transformed with the addition of sweet orange marmalade, smokey barbecue sauce and fresh vegetables. Add this recipe to your after-holiday meal plan, and your family won’t tire of the leftover turkey! Find the recipe here.

Thankful Trivia: A common myth says eating turkey makes you tired because of the tryptophan content. However, the tryptophan content of turkey is comparable to that of poultry, beef and other meats.

Four Seasons Beef and Brussels Sprout Chopped Salad | Iowa Beef Council

Looking for a fresh new way to serve leftover steak or roast? Add Brussels sprouts, pear, celery, cheese and cranberries for a delicious salad. When choosing the best Brussels sprouts, look for tightly wrapped leaves, a bright green color and firm stems. This recipe offers variations that represent seasonal flavors, so you can enjoy this dish year-round! Find the recipe here.

Thankful Trivia: A 3-ounce serving of lean beef provides 10 essential nutrients in around 150 calories, less than 10 grams of total fat and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol.

Thanksgiving Ramen | Iowa Egg Council

In Japanese cooking, ramen is defined as quick-cooking noodles, typically served in a broth with meat and vegetables. The flavor pairings are endless and can be varied to suit taste preferences and what ingredients are on hand. In this recipe, Thanksgiving leftovers, including gravy, turkey, roasted vegetables and cranberry sauce, are paired with ramen noodles and soft-boiled eggs to create an innovative take on the holiday meal. Find the recipe here.

Thankful Trivia: Egg farmers know how much eggs are loved — they’re in almost every Iowa refrigerator — and egg farmers are proud to produce the incredibly nutritious, high-quality eggs Iowans count on.