Thanksgiving Leftovers, Portuguese Style

I'm sure all of us in the States are going to be eating Turkey for days this week, so why not take it and make something totally new!

Here is a good recipe to make for the day after Thanksgiving!

Turkey & Couves Soup

Leftover Cooked Turkey Bones
Water
Salt
2 Carrots (small rough chop)
1 Yellow Onion (small chop)
1/2 bunch Kale
1 package Egg Noodles
1 Baguette (thinly sliced on bias)
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
Leftover Shredded Turkey

1.  Place turkey bones in stock pot and cover with water by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, cooking for 2 to 3 hours. Season with salt to taste. Remove bones and strain mixture through cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve.
2.  Preheat oven to broil. In a large saute pan, heat a few tablespoons of oil and saute carrots, onion and kale for 2 to 3 minutes. Vegetables should not be overly soft. Season to taste.
3.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Cook egg noodles two minutes short of the package instructions. Drain.
4.  Place sliced bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan. Broil for 2 minutes just until cheese has melted slightly.
5.  Divide the vegetable mixture and noodles between 4 bowls. Top with shredded turkey. Ladle turkey stock into bowl and top with crostini and freshly grated parmigiano.

Recheio - Portuguese Stuffing

Recheio

Portuguese Stuffing

Ingredients: 

1 whole chicken (about 3lbs)

1/2 cup olive oil 
2 lbs. chourico (about 2 links)
2 celery stalks
2 lg. Vidalia onions (chopped) 
5-8 cloves garlic (chopped) 
4  day old pop seco’s (Portuguese rolls)
1 tsp. sage finely chopped
Salt & Pepper

In a large stock pot drizzle ¼ cup olive oil and sauté chopped onions until softened. Then add garlic, chourico, and celery. Sauté for a couple minutes.

Wash entire chicken with water (and lemons if desired). Put whole chicken into the same stock pot. Add enough water to cover the chicken. Add tbsp of salt and tsp of black pepper. Cover and let it come to a boil. Bring down to a simmer until chicken is cooked. About 45 minutes.

In the meantime take out a large baking tray and food processor. After chicken has been thoroughly cooked, carefully remove everything from the pot onto the tray. Set the celery aside for now. DO NOT discard the broth. Let the chicken cool enough for you to handle.

After chicken has cooled, tear apart all of the chicken and chourico into large chunks. Throw out the bones and skin. In a food processor, pulse chicken, chourico, onions, garlic. Add a little broth to help it move if needed. You will have to do this in batches. Do not over pulse. Pulse about 4 times each batch. If you like hearty chunks you can skip the food processor part. Put back processed ingredients into large tray.

Tear bread apart into small pieces and mix well into the meat in the tray. Chop celery and add as well. Along with the finely chopped sage or any herb you love.  Mix to combine. Pour some broth over everything. About a half a cup. Taste to see if it needs more salt or pepper. Drizzle ¼ cup of olive oil all over.

Bake for about 30 minutes covered with foil. Then bake uncovered for another 15 minutes or instead you can broil on low for 5-8 minutes. Keep an eye on it if broiling.