Thanksgiving leftovers: Turkey Cranberry Relish Scoops

Did you know that leftover cranberry sauce is the part of the Thanksgiving meal that usually ends up in the trash? What a shame, especially when you can use it in all kinds of ways.

Here are a few ideas for using leftover cranberry sauce:

• As a topping on oatmeal, pancakes or yogurt
• Slashfood 8 (Ate): Things to do with leftover cranberry sauce
• Cranberry Apple Crisp from This Mama Cooks
• Baked Apples with Cranberry Sauce from The Kitchn
• Toasted Turkey Cranberry Arugula Sandwich from Simply Recipes
• 9 Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes Including Quesadillas with Cranberry Sauce and Brie from The Dabble

Kim Hendrickson, author of Savory Bites: Easy, Sophisticated Hors d’Oeuvres for Every Occasion, makes Turkey Cranberry Relish Scoops with her Thanksgiving leftovers. She writes,

This recipe came to me after a past Thanksgiving when I was surrounded by leftovers. If you’re like me and crave turkey and cranberry flavors more than once a year you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving.

This non-sweet (adult) savory bite can be served as a before dinner hors d’oeuvre, or finger food, beautifully presented on endive leaf tips. For a great luncheon salad increase the amount of turkey and serve over a luncheon plate of mesculin greens for a quick and easy meal with friends.

Turkey Cranberry Relish Scoops

This refreshing relish came about when my sister made a wonderful gelatin salad for dessert on Thanksgiving. Cranberry is a favorite flavor for both of us, but this dessert was more refreshing and flavorful than any cranberry combination 1’d had before. A few changes later, these traditional ingredients have a new life in these festive bites for any holiday party.

Yield: 24 scoops

Ingredients

• 1 ½  cups diced cooked turkey
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or ½  teaspoon dried
• ½  cup pineapple chunks, fresh or canned, drained
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 stalk celery, cut into chunks
• ½  apple, unpeeled, cored, and cut into ½ -inch chunks
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• ½  orange, peeled, seeded, and coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 24 endive leaves
• Thyme sprigs, as garnish

Directions

1. Toss turkey and thyme in a small bowl. Pulse remaining ingredients except endive in a food processor until pureed. (Relish can be made a few days in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator.)
2. Spoon onto the base of each endive leaf, top with diced turkey, and garnish with a little more relish and a thyme sprig.

Modify

• Even frozen cranberries can be hard to find, so stock up when in season. Plumped dried cranberries will also work, or raspberries. For variety, replace endive with mini bok choy, or cranberries with 1½ cups blackberries or strawberries.

Magnify

• Leftover turkey or roasted chicken makes a wonderful lunch dish when topped with warmed cranberry relish. The contrast of sweet meat and tart sauce is delicious. Serves 3.

© 2010 Kim Hendrickson, author of Savory Bites: Easy, Sophisticated Hor d’Oeuvers for Every Occasion

Anne-Marie Nichols is the Managing Editor Mom Central Food. You can also find her cooking up some healthy recipes at This Mama Cooks! On a Diet.

Anne-Marie Nichols