Christmas leftovers can be both a blessing and a curse; the initial joy of the Boxing Day turkey sandwich, so satisfying with its hit of sweetness from a spoonful of chutney, can quickly become tiresome when repeated meal after meal.

This year, the prospect of uneaten roast turkey meat signifies more than just stomachs too full to manage another mouthful: with Tier 4 lockdown measures forcing millions of people to cancel their Christmas plans, those who ordered the bird nice and early now face a mountain of meat with fewer people to eat it.

Not to mention a surplus of sprouts and rather too many roast potatoes… which means we’re going to have to get even more creative in the kitchen to use up the extra food bought in for the big day. 

Short, simple dishes that pack a punch are always in order for the days following Christmas; to make use of the cooked turkey, Asian-style lettuce cups and pillowy-soft bao buns are light in prep work but deliver plenty of flavour. A turkey pie is a given, but adding a little sharpness in the form of cheddar cheese will keep things interesting. 

As for the sides, potatoes, parsnips and Brussels sprouts can all be given a new lease of life in frittatas, salads and soups. And for any leftover Christmas pudding, few people could refuse the offer of a buttery pastry spiral, made with crumbled pudding, for a breakfast-time treat. 

Roast turkey

Use up the last of your bird in Asian-style salads with plenty of bright and fold flavours, a pepped-up pie, and a stunning soup that also stars parsnips and leeks.