Turkey makes many appearances at Canadian Christmas dinner tables. I always associate the festive bird with Christmas and only recently did I realize many of our southern neighbours think it’s odd. It’s no wonder. With American Thanksgiving still fresh in memory, the thought of having turkey AGAIN is not exciting to say the least. You see, for us Canadians, the last turkey feast was way back in mid October. It’s been long enough to crave turkey again.
With turkey comes leftover, obviously. Roasted turkey sandwich is a popular option but I do like to fancy it up a bit. Roasted Turkey Sandwich with Pear, Blue Cheese, & Honey is a combination that I particularly love.
The inspiration behind this sandwich is the classic pairing of pear and blue cheese. This is often seen in cheese plates or salads. The nectar-sweet pear counters the pungent blue cheese really well. Honey further echoes the sweetness of the fruit. I used roast turkey breast because it cuts into nicer slices. A length of multigrain baguette completes the sandwich.
This is a combination that appeals to my taste very much. However, blue cheese can be a very polarizing ingredient. There are many people who don’t enjoy blue cheese at all. A mild cheese such at brie can be a good alternative. The truth is, “blue cheese” includes such a large variety of different cheeses there may be one that you like. For example, gorgonzola dolce is very creamy and mild. Stilton has a sharper taste but also deeply savoury. I used the widely available Danish Castello in my sandwich because I did not plan ahead to get proper good cheese. As a fan of blue cheese, I think enjoying it in a sandwich with all these other ingredients is a good introduction if you’re unsure about it. Just remember that a little goes a long way.
I wrapped the sandwich with parchment paper and kitchen twines for a portable lunch. I toted along an apple and this was a very satisfying and hearty lunch for leftover turkey. After all, we can all use some nourishment to brave the Boxing Day crowd, right?
