Christmas is an abundance of food, festivities and joy and one of my favourite parts of it has to be the food. A shared meal can bring people together; gathered around a table stories are told, memories are created and love is abundantly grown. 

If you’re anything like me I have a habit of cooking for a small army so I'm always left wondering what to do with my post-christmas leftovers and love finding new recipe ideas to use up my leftovers making sure food doesn’t go to waste. 

I asked all of our artisans at the workshop for their go-to christmas leftover recipes; Turkey pie or a Turkey curry seemed to be the most popular to the more unusual cranberry sauce muffins and even a christmas dinner in a giant yorkshire pudding! However, the Roast Turkey Ramen definitely won my vote.

Roast Turkey Ramen:

If you’re looking for something a bit different than your standard turkey sandwich try a Roast Turkey Ramen. I love japanese food and Ramen is the ultimate japanese comfort food, simple, nourishing and super tasty. 

Ingredients (serves 2) :

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

12 Oz shiitake mushrooms

2 Garlic cloves

1200 ml chicken stock, turkey or vegetable stock 

3 tablespoons hoisin sauce

2 blocks dried ramen noodles, seasoning packets removed

3 to 4 ounces roasted turkey

4 spring onion, sliced

2 Nori sheets

2 or 4 eggs, soft boiled or poached

2 tablespoons chilli garlic paste 

3 teaspoons black sesame seeds

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 handful fresh coriander

Method

1. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add the butter. Once melted, add the mushrooms and garlic and toss. Cook for around 5 minutes until the mushrooms are soft and juicy and set aside.
2. Whilst the mushrooms are cooking, bring the stock to a simmer, stir in the hoisin and soy sauce and cook your eggs at the same time. Soft boiled eggs are traditional, however poached are just as delicious. I always find 6 minutes is the perfect amount of time for a soft boiled egg. Place eggs into ice cold water before peeling.
3. Place each block of Ramen noodles into two separate bowls, add your leftover Turkey, spring onions, coriander, chili garlic paste and mushrooms to the bowl. Pour the stock evenly over the noodles and let sit for 2-3 minutes before stirring. Stir in more garlic chili paste depending on how spicy you like it.
4. To finish, add the eggs and nori sheets, sprinkle with sesame seeds, a drizzle of sesame seed oil and enjoy! 

Food is not only meant to nourish and sustain us but also to fulfill us, it is such an important part of our physical and emotional wellbeing and is one of the simplest and most beautiful ways to show you care.

Let me know if you try this delicious Ramen and if you have any other Christmas leftover recipes for me to try! 

Hope you all have a wonderful yuletide break.

Bella x