One of my favorite ways to use up leftover turkey is to stuff them into enchiladas. Partly it’s because of my Texas background and I’ll find any excuse to make enchiladas. But the other reason is that a huge dish of enchiladas can easily feed a crowd, and the flavors couldn’t be further from Thanksgiving (and by this time you might be a bit tired of all that stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce).

Enchiladas take a bit of time, but you can always plan ahead and make the sauce in advance and freeze it for up to 3 months. Just thaw it and warm it in a saucepan when you are ready to assemble the enchiladas.

For ease, I’ve used canned whole tomatillos, but if you want to use fresh (and can find them at your local market), by all means use those! To prepare them for the sauce, husk them and rinse them, then put them in a saucepan and cover them with water. Add the garlic cloves and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes or until tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to the blender. You can use the cooking water to thin the sauce if necessary.

I like serving each portion topped with shredded lettuce and sour cream (and maybe even some thinly sliced radishes and white onion), just for creaminess and texture. But any way you serve these, you really can’t go wrong.

Turkey and Monterey Jack Enchiladas with Green Tomatillo Sauce (Wendy Goodfriend)

Turkey and Monterey Jack Enchiladas with Green Tomatillo Sauce

Makes 6 servings

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Ingredients:
For the tomatillo sauce

4 (12-oz) cans whole green tomatillos, drained
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 serrano chiles (optional)
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 small yellow onion, chopped
Kosher salt

For the enchiladas

2 cups shredded cooked turkey meat
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
12 to 14 corn tortillas (each 6 inch diameter)
2 tbsp canola oil

For serving

Shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce
Sour cream

Instructions:

1. To make the sauce, add the tomatillos, garlic, chiles if using, cilantro, onion, and 1 tsp salt, and puree until smooth. Add some of the cooking liquid to thin the sauce if needed. Return the sauce to the saucepan over medium heat and simmer, stirring, until it thickens and darkens slightly in color, about 10 minutes. Season with salt to taste and set aside.

To make the sauce, add the tomatillos, garlic, chiles if using, cilantro, onion, and 1 tsp salt, to a blender. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Return the sauce to the saucepan over medium heat and simmer while stirring until it thickens and darkens slightly in color, about 10 minutes. — Return the sauce to the saucepan over medium heat and simmer, stirring, until it thickens and darkens slightly in color, about 10 minutes. (Wendy Goodfriend)

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13-inch dish with cooking spray. Spread 1 cup of the sauce into the bottom of the dish. In a bowl, stir together the turkey, cheese, and 1/2 cup sauce.

In a bowl, stir together the turkey, cheese, and 1/2 cup sauce. (Wendy Goodfriend)

1. In a heavy frying pan, warm the canola oil over medium-high heat. Place a few layers of paper towels on the countertop. Fry the tortillas, turning them after a few seconds, then transfer them (letting the excess oil drip off) to the paper towels. Blot dry.

Fry the tortillas, turning them after a few seconds. (Wendy Goodfriend)

1. Divide the turkey mixture between the tortillas and roll each one up tightly. Place in the baking dish. (These can be prepped up to 1–2 hours ahead.)

Divide the turkey mixture between the tortillas and roll each one up tightly. Place in the baking dish. (Wendy Goodfriend)

1. Warm the remaining sauce. Pour the sauce over the enchiladas to generously coat them. Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and heated through, 20 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Pour the sauce over the enchiladas to generously coat them. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and heated through, 20 to 30 minutes. (Wendy Goodfriend)

tomatillo saucetomatillo sauce

Thanksgiving Leftovers: Turkey and Monterey Jack Enchiladas with Green Tomatillo Sauce