Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls Recipe

If you’re anything like me, you love finding creative ways to reinvent holiday leftovers, and that’s exactly why this Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls Recipe is such a winner. It’s fresh, light, and incredibly satisfying—transforming your turkey into something totally new and vibrant. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll wonder why you haven’t made spring rolls with turkey before!

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this leftover turkey spring rolls recipe has a purpose to balance textures and flavors. Crisp veggies add crunch, mint gives a pop of freshness, and the turkey brings protein and heartiness. Using fresh butter leaf lettuce makes wrapping easier and adds subtle sweetness.

• Spring roll wrappers: Rice paper wrappers soften easily and give a light, chewy texture perfect for holding all the fillings.
• Leftover turkey: Shredded turkey adds savory depth and a great way to use up white or dark meat.
• Butter leaf lettuce: Soft and pliable, it helps keep the rolls fresh while providing a gentle crunch.
• Carrot: Adds sweetness and crunch, and shredding makes it easy to roll.
• Cucumber: Refreshing and hydrating, thin strips keep things crisp without adding moisture that sogs the wrapper.
• Bean sprouts: Bring a nutty crunch and extra freshness that perfectly complements the turkey.
• Fresh mint leaves: The aromatic herb brightens every bite with zesty flavor.
• Dipping sauce: Choose your favorite—hoisin, peanut, or a spicy chili sauce all work beautifully.

Note: Exact ingredients and measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

Make It Your Way

I love personalizing spring rolls to whatever I have on hand or my mood. This leftover turkey spring rolls recipe is a fantastic base—you can mix and match veggies and herbs that you love, or switch up the dipping sauces for new flavor adventures.

• Variation: Sometimes I add thinly sliced avocado for creaminess or swap mint for cilantro to change things up. Both are delicious!
• Dietary tweak: If gluten is a concern, just make sure your dipping sauce is gluten-free—rice paper and all other ingredients here are naturally gluten-free.
• Spice it up: Add finely sliced fresh chili or a drizzle of sriracha inside the rolls for an extra kick that wakes up the taste buds.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Fresh Ingredients and Turkey

Start by washing and thoroughly drying the bean sprouts, mint, and butter leaf lettuce leaves—drying them well prevents soggy rolls. Cut your carrot and cucumber into very thin matchsticks; sharper knife skills help here but a mandoline slicer works wonders if you have one. Tear or shred your leftover turkey into small, bite-sized pieces so everything rolls up neatly.

Step 2: Soften and Prepare the Spring Roll Wrappers

Fill a large bowl with warm water. Take one spring roll wrapper at a time and dip it fully in the water, rotating after a few seconds so both sides soften evenly. It should bend easily without tearing but not feel mushy. Lay it flat on a clean surface for assembling right away—spring rolls are best made fresh, so don’t soak too many at once.

Step 3: Assemble the Rolls Like a Pro

Place one butter leaf lettuce leaf onto the upper third of the softened wrapper. Pile on about two tablespoons of shredded turkey, then add some carrot, cucumber, and bean sprouts. Top it all off with a few fresh mint leaves. Spread the filling evenly in a line to help you roll.

Step 4: Roll ’Em Up Tight and Tidy

Fold the top edge of the rice paper over the filling, then fold in the sides to seal, and tightly roll the whole thing towards you. Use your finger to keep the filling compact as you roll so everything stays inside. The sticky rice paper will cling to itself and seal the spring roll beautifully. Practice makes perfect here; it might feel a little tricky at first, but after a couple, you’ll get the hang of the tension needed.

Step 5: Slice and Serve with Dipping Sauce

Optionally, use a serrated knife to slice your spring rolls in half crosswise—makes them easier to eat and presents nicely on a platter. Serve them immediately with your chosen dipping sauce. If you’re like me, you might want to have more than one sauce on hand for dipping fun.

How to Serve Leftover Turkey Spring Rolls Recipe

Garnishes

I usually sprinkle chopped roasted peanuts or toasted sesame seeds on top right before serving to add a nutty crunch. Some fresh lime wedges on the side brighten everything up and add a splash of citrusy zing.

Side Dishes

These spring rolls pair beautifully with light Asian-inspired sides like a cucumber salad or a bowl of hot and sour soup. You could also serve them alongside steamed jasmine rice for a more filling meal.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I arrange the sliced spring rolls on a large platter lined with banana leaves and sprinkle fresh herbs all around—it makes the platter look so inviting and restaurant-worthy. Mini bowls of different dipping sauces add variety and fun for your guests to customize.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover spring rolls can be wrapped individually in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours. I don’t recommend keeping them much longer because the rice paper tends to dry out or get soggy. It’s best to enjoy them fresh!

Freezing

I’ve tried freezing these rolls before, but unfortunately, the texture doesn’t hold up well after thawing—the rice paper becomes rubbery. So, I’d skip freezing and make them fresh whenever you want.

Reheating

Since these are fresh spring rolls, reheating isn’t necessary or recommended. To revive chilled rolls, just let them come to room temperature or enjoy them cold—they’re delicious either way!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This leftover turkey spring rolls recipe has become one of my favorite ways to breathe new life into turkey remnants. It’s light, refreshing, and feels like a little celebration in every bite. If you’ve got turkey to use up and want something fun and healthy to make, I truly recommend giving these spring rolls a try—they might just become your go-to leftover makeover, too!

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