Thanksgiving Turkey Congee

It's time for a way to eat leftover turkey that doesn't make you actually feel like you're eating and, best of all?

Recipe Summary Thanksgiving Turkey Congee

My dad used to make huge Thanksgiving dinners, and the morning after, we would be treated to delicious turkey congee. Congee is a Chinese rice porridge traditionally eaten for breakfast or brunch, but I personally eat it any time. It is also very good for digestion and has excellent health benefits. Although I've been having congee since I was a baby, it remains for me the ultimate comfort food.

Ingredients | Best Leftover Turkey Recipes Serious Eats

¼ cup dried scallops

3 dried black mushrooms

1 ½ cups uncooked short-grain white rice

½ leftover turkey carcass, broken into pieces

9 cups water

1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

1 bunch green onions, chopped

¼ cup thinly sliced fresh ginger

¼ cup raw peanuts

2 tablespoons dried red onion

8 dashes sesame oil

ground white pepper to taste

Directions

Place dried scallops and dried mushrooms in a bowl; pour in hot water to cover and let stand to rehydrate, about 10 minutes. Rinse and drain rice; set aside.

Separate any meat from bones of turkey carcass; set aside. Place bones and 9 cups hot water in a large stockpot and bring to a boil. Drain mushrooms and scallops; squeeze out any excess water. Break scallops into smaller pieces; slice mushrooms thinly.

Stir scallops, mushrooms, rice, and turkey meat into the stockpot; reduce heat to allow congee to simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally for a smooth congee, until rice is tender and congee is thick, about 2 hours. If you like a thinner congee, stir in hot water a few tablespoons at a time.

Ladle congee into individual bowls; top each bowl with cilantro, green onions, ginger, peanuts, red onion, sesame oil, and white pepper as desired.

Congee is both a very basic and very forgiving meal to make. There are many varieties, and after you have made it a few times, you will develop a preference for the water-to-rice ratio, add-ons, toppings, and seasonings. The ratio I put in this recipe makes a thicker congee, which I prefer, but you can always make it thinner. (It is easier to thin it out as you are cooking than the reverse!)

Note that you can leave the bones in the pot while you ladle out the congee.

If you have an Asian market near you, you can also buy fried doughnuts (also called fried crullers) to serve with the congee.

Leftover congee will thicken, so when you reheat it the next day, you can stir in a tiny bit of water if desired.

Look for the dried red onions mentioned in the Toppings in Asian markets or the International aisle of the supermarket.

Info | Best Leftover Turkey Recipes Serious Eats

prep: 20 mins cook: 2 hrs additional: 10 mins total: 2 hrs 30 mins Servings: 8 Yield: 8 servings

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