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Turkey Jook

5.0

(1)

Two bowls of shredded turkey and rice topped with fried shallots cilantro peanuts and chung choi.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mira Evnine

Turkey jook is the unofficial day-after-Thanksgiving dish in Hawai‘i. This comforting, savory rice porridge, introduced to the islands by Chinese immigrants during Hawai‘i’s plantation era, is a great way to use up your leftover turkey—carcass and all—transforming it into a creamy, umami-packed dish. What I love about this recipe is that it’s extremely forgiving and infinitely adaptable. And this version feels extra special because it’s not every day that you roast a turkey. You can serve turkey jook for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—or even as a snack. The list of possible toppings is endless, and while I’ve given a few recommendations in this recipe, you can top the porridge with whatever speaks to you. If you’re serving this for breakfast, I suggest putting an egg on it (preferably soft-boiled).

The ingredient list is simple, and most items should already be in your pantry or fridge. It’s worth seeking out the chung choi, though. Although using this salted preserved turnip is optional, it is a common addition in many jook recipes and adds an intense pop of savory-saltiness that can’t be replicated.

The total time on this recipe might cause alarm, but don’t worry, it’s almost all hands-off, inactive time. In my house we prep the stock on Thanksgiving, throwing the turkey carcass in the stockpot while we’re cleaning up after dinner. In the morning it’s easy to add the rest of the ingredients in and have a fresh pot of jook to enjoy throughout the day. This recipe includes instructions for making your own stock using the leftover turkey carcass, but you can skip this step and use 1 gallon of your preferred brand of low-sodium chicken broth instead.

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What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    4 hours 30 minutes

  • Yield

    6 servings

Ingredients

Stock

1 roast turkey or rotisserie chicken carcass, meat removed
2 large carrots, peeled, coarsely chopped
2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
1 small onion, unpeeled, quartered through root end
3 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 (2" piece) ginger, peeled, sliced ¼" thick
3 pieces chung choi (salted preserved turnip) or 1 ball, coarsely chopped (optional)

Jook and Assembly

1⅓ cups calrose or other medium-grain rice, rinsed
¼ cup unsalted roasted peanuts
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 2¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more
3 cups shredded or 1" pieces cooked turkey, divided
Cilantro leaves with tender stems, julienned peeled ginger, thinly sliced scallions, store-bought fried onions, and/or sriracha (for serving; optional)

Preparation

  1. Stock

    Step 1

    Bring 1 roast turkey or rotisserie chicken carcass, meat removed, 2 large carrots, peeled, coarsely chopped, 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped, 1 small onion, unpeeled, quartered through root end, 3 dried shiitake mushrooms, one 2" piece ginger, peeled, sliced ¼" thick, 3 pieces chung choi (salted preserved turnip) or 1 ball, coarsely chopped (if using), and 4½ qts. water to a boil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and gently simmer, stirring and skimming foam from surface occasionally, until light golden, flavorful, and faintly fragrant, about 2 hours. Carefully strain stock through a fine-mesh sieve into another stockpot or a large bowl; discard solids. You should have 1 gal. stock. If you are short, add water to get you there.

    Do Ahead: Stock can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool, then transfer to airtight containers. Cover and chill.

  2. Jook and Assembly

    Step 2

    Bring stock, 1⅓ cups calrose or other medium-grain rice, rinsed, ¼ cup unsalted roasted peanuts, 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 2¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 2 cups shredded or 1" pieces cooked turkey to a boil in a clean large stockpot or Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook until rice is just starting to fall apart, 12–17 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often to prevent it from burning, until rice is falling apart and mixture is creamy and thick enough that any toppings won’t sink, 1–1½ hours. Taste jook and season with more salt if needed.

    Step 3

    Ladle jook among bowls and top with remaining 1 cup shredded or 1" pieces cooked turkey, then cilantro leaves with tender stems, julienned peeled ginger, thinly sliced scallions, store-bought fried onions, and/or sriracha if desired.

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