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Prep time
20 minutes
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Cook time
30 minutes
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Serves
4
Author Notes
Is it just me or do you always crave something spicy and brothy after a big holiday meal? Something bold and punchy to smack you out of your stupor? For the past few years, after every Thanksgiving, I’ve made one of two things: either a bathtub-sized bowl of fiery instant ramen or, if I’ve sequestered enough leftover turkey, this fragrant Thai-style curry. Even too-dry turkey will emerge refreshed from this coconutty sauna, so use all the bits you can strip off the bird. Remove any skin before adding to the curry, as it tends to become unbearably flabby. Using canned curry paste keeps this recipe moving swiftly. Maesri (find it Umamicart, SouthEast, or Amazon) is my preferred brand of Thai curry paste. I stockpile a tower of the petite cans, which have come to the rescue for many a midweek meal. The knot of fresh, zippy lemongrass in the broth resurrects the curry paste just enough that it almost feels freshly ground. Butternut squash (which some stores will conveniently sell pre-cut into large chunks) is my favorite add-in here, as it absorbs flavor so readily, but other vegetables (like potatoes, cauliflower, or carrots) will work just as well. If you’re not a turkey fan (hi, let’s be friends!), leftover chicken or ham are both excellent subs. And while I call for red curry paste in this recipe, green or massaman are also great—the flavor profile will change, but the cooking technique remains the same. If you happen to have a stash of makrut lime leaves in your freezer, add two to three to the pot for an even more aromatic dish. —Shilpa Uskokovic
Test Kitchen Notes
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Ingredients
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1
stalk fresh lemongrass
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3 tablespoons
vegetable oil
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2
large shallots (about 6 ounces), thinly sliced
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3
large garlic cloves, minced
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1
(1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
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5 tablespoons
red curry paste
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1
(13½-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
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8 ounces
butternut squash, peeled, cut into 1½-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
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1 1/2 cups
water (or low-sodium chicken or turkey stock)
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Kosher salt, to taste
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1 pound
leftover turkey meat, cut or torn into 1-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
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1 tablespoon
dark or light brown sugar
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1 tablespoon
freshly squeezed lime juice
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2 teaspoons
fish sauce
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1/2 cup
roughly chopped cilantro leaves
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Steamed white or brown rice and lime wedges, for serving
Directions
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Using the back of a heavy knife or mallet, bruise the lemongrass along its length. Tie it into a knot.
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Heat the oil in a large, heavy pot (such as a Dutch oven) over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and pale golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, and curry paste. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and the paste is slightly darker, about 3 minutes. Scoop the thick cream from the top of the coconut milk (about ⅓ cup) and add to the curry paste. Cook, stirring frequently, until beads of fat rise to the top, about 3 minutes (if the spice paste threatens to burn along the way, lower the heat to medium).
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Add the butternut squash, remaining coconut milk, water, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the lemongrass knot. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, over medium-high heat until the squash is almost tender (a skewer, toothpick, or fork inserted into a piece should be met with slight resistance), 6 to 8 minutes. Add the turkey and continue simmering, uncovered, until the squash is fully cooked and the turkey is warm, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
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Fish out and discard the lemongrass knot; stir in the brown sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with the cilantro and serve immediately with steamed rice and plenty of lime wedges to squeeze on top.
Shilpa Uskokovic is recipe developer, food writer and budding food stylist and photographer. She was previously a line and pastry cook in some of NYC's top rated restaurants like Marea, The NoMad Hotel, Maialino and Perry Street.
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Shilpa loves books, Bundt cakes, cute Basset Hounds and peak millennial memes. She was born and raised in Chennai, India.
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