You will soon have plenty of leftover turkey, and I have big plans for it! But first I have a question for you, have you ever eaten preserved lemons? I hadn’t until recently and let me tell you they are a spectacular treat. Thinly sliced and placed inside a turkey sandwich they add delightful and unexpected flavor to a plain old standard!
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The Leftover Turkey Sandwich with Preserved Lemons

 

Preserved Lemons:

Preserved lemons are a staple of Moroccan cooking, often used to add flavor as well as color to savory meats, vegetable dishes and salads. Preserved lemons are soaked in lemon juice, salt and a little sugar (and sometimes herbs and spices) until they become soft and the oils in the rinds are released. They add a little something extra that a squeeze of fresh lemon just can’t!

The Leftover Turkey Sandwich with Preserved Lemons

 Make Them Yourself….or Not:

If you have the inclination, you can preserve your own lemons. It is a really easy process, all you need is a knife, salt, sugar and some patience. But if you would rather save the time, you can buy them. When you buy them they come whole, as pictured, if you make them yourself (recipe included below) you will quarter them to save time.

The Leftover Turkey Sandwich with Preserved Lemons

The Garlic Aioli:

Besides the use of preserved lemons I like to add flavor to this sandwich with homemade garlic aioli! Garlic aioli is basically mayo with a little garlic added and it literally takes a minute to make. You can see my tutorial here. Let me just say the combination of the aioli, preserved lemons, turkey and a fabulous bread is truly extraordinary!

The Leftover Turkey Sandwich with Preserved Lemons

The Recipes: The Leftover Turkey Sandwich and Preserved Lemons

Tips and what you will need: you can use regular mayo but I like to bump it up a notch by using homemade garlic aioli! My recipe here. Make your own preserved lemons or buy them here.

 

Print
How to Make Preserved Lemons
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
Making preserved lemons is easy, it just requires patience. The recipe below is a super simple version using quartered lemons to help speed up the process. Once you succeed at making your first batch you may want to try adding herbs and spices like peppercorns, cinnamon or bay leaves the next time! You will need a large sterile mason jar.
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy dessert recipe, how to
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Linda Spiker
Ingredients
  • 8 fresh good quality lemons
  • 1/2 cup kosher salt
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • large mason jar
Instructions
  1. Quarter each lemon from the top without cutting through the bottom (so the quarters can separate but the intact bottom holds the fruit together).
  2. Toss in a bowl with sugar and salt.
  3. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  4. Pour liquid and lemons into a clean mason jar pressing lemons down so they are submerged in liquid.
  5. Place lid on jar and store in the fridge for at least two weeks and up to 4 months.
  6. Use in sandwiches, alongside roasted chicken or lamb etc...
Print
The Leftover Turkey Sandwich with Preserved Lemons
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
A delightful take on an old standard!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy lunch recipe, Thanksgiving, weeknight dinner
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Linda Spiker
Ingredients
  • Artisan bread thinly sliced (I used a rosemary olive oil bread)
  • Homemade garlic aioli or good quality mayo
  • roasted turkey
  • arugula
  • a few thin slices of preserved lemons
Instructions
  1. Spread the bread with garlic aioli or mayo
  2. Layer bread with arugula, turkey and very thinly sliced preserved lemons
  3. Eat!

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