This turkey stew is a meal in itself but it would taste infinitely better is paired with our Dutch Oven Bread. If you don’t have time to make a yeasted bread, try our easy Honey Buckwheat Soda Bread. This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Not long ago I asked my readers about their cold weather cravings. What did they reach for more often? Soups, stews or casseroles? Soup came on top, followed by a stew. No surprises here, we all long for hearty meals that warms us up from the inside when the weather gets chilly. As much as I love soups, I have to admit that my preferences will always lie with stews. I am not sure what it is but it might have to do with the texture. I find thick and robust stews fill me with all the comfort and joy I need.
What do you put in a stew?
Anything you have in your fridge and pantry. Stews are excellent for getting rid of leftovers and are a very frugal way to feed a family. Generally tougher cuts of meat and root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, parsnips, etc are used in stews as they require longer cooking times. Longer cooking time help stews develop delicious flavours. Stews are also very similar to soups. The only difference is the ingredients are cooked in less liquid, so they are stewing together rather than being boiled/simmered in a liquid like soups. The stew recipe I am sharing today was inspired by leftover Thanksgiving turkey I had to deal with rather quickly. I made a leftover turkey soup for all soup lovers and turkey a la king for a bit of nostalgia. And I also made a turkey stew for myself in hopes you would love it too. Apart from leftover turkey meat I added leeks, carrots, bacon lardons for a bit of smokiness, thyme and bay leaves for extra flavour and large potato chunks. I also used homemade turkey stock, another effective use of leftovers. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to add cream to my turkey stew recipe or leave it dairy free, so I’ve tried both ways. Here is what my stew looked like straight from the oven. It’s nice, thick and incredibly flavourful. At this point you can stir in ⅓ cup of double/heavy cream, which will make your stew so much more luxurious! Tender turkey, large chunks of carrots and potatoes swimming in silky smooth gravy. I can’t imagine a better meal in colder months than this creamy leftover turkey stew!
Serving suggestions
By the time it’s ready to eat, the aroma from this stew will have your stomach rumbling. It has everything you need for a complete meal right in the pot, so you won’t have to put in more time and effort before enjoying. But it’s a great idea to plan ahead and have a loaf of chunky bread ready to clean your bowl. Lovely Dutch oven bread is beautiful with stew, but rye or rosemary spelt bread add a tasty twist.
Storage and leftovers
A hearty stew like this is likely going to lead to leftovers, which is great news as you probably need a break from time in the kitchen! Time in the refrigerator will actually help the flavours to meld and intensify, making the stew even more flavourful the next time you try it. Cover the leftovers tightly or place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in a saucepan on the stovetop. If you chose not to use cream, this stew can be frozen as well. It’ll keep for up to 3 months. Let it thaw completely before reheating on the stovetop.
More delicious stew recipes from around the world
Irish Beef Stew Russian Sweet and Sour Beef Stew “Solyanka” Hungarian Beef Goulash Italian Chicken Stew French Beef Bourguignon Texas Style Chili Recipe Vietnamese Beef Stew
