Homemade Turkey Rice Soup
Turkey Wild Rice Soup
It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving… Her’s a recipe to use up that carcass! Don’t throw it away without making this yummy soup! Create a large pot of yumminess for your family. Economical and makes enough to freeze for later too... or give away to friends!
Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Yield: 10 - 12 servings
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 – 4 medium carrots, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
1 medium onion, diced
3 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups homemade or canned/boxed turkey stock
2 cups chopped turkey meat
1 1/2 cups wild rice mixture (or brown rice)
2 tablespoons chicken soup base
10 sprigs fresh thyme (~ 1 tablespoon) or 1 teaspoon dried
2 – 3 bay leaves
4 - 5 leaves fresh sage, chopped or 1⁄2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon parsley, chopped
Equipment needed:
6 – 8 quart pot with lid
Colander
Cutting Board
Chef knife
Rubber spatula
Measuring spoons
Liquid & dry measuring cups
Soup ladle
I love soup!! Especially after Thanksgiving... nothing like a bubbling pot of yum, cooking all day on the stove. Also, a great use of the leftover holiday bird too. If you have never made soup from the turkey carcass, this is your chance to experience one of the best secrets ever... Amazingly good and really pretty simple! I will include the process in this recipe too! If you would rather not deal with the process and prefer to use pre-made broth... no problem. Soup will still be so yummy! Perfect comfort food for sure. Add wild rice, brown rice, noodles, quinoa, pasta... whatever you desire. That’s what is amazing about soup... make it your own! So, grab your soup kettle and let’s make soup!!
Homemade stock is pretty simple... start with a poultry carcass from which you have removed & saved, most of the meat. Place the trimmed carcass, an onion, couple stalks of celery and a couple cloves of garlic and maybe a teaspoon of thyme in a large 6-quart pot... (may need to break the carcass in half to fit depending on the size pot) and completely cover ingredients with water. Water should be at least 1-inch above the majority of the carcass. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about an hour or so, or until the meat easily can be removed from the carcass. It will literally fall apart when removed from the pot and the broth will be rich and no longer clear. When broth is ready, place a colander over another pot, at least 3-quart capacity, and carefully pour the contents into the colander, as shown above. Allow the contents to cool and remove the meat from the bones to reserve for later. Yes, all that meat came off of one turkey carcass! What a waste when you toss it without making soup... No? Reserve broth for soup or freeze it for later if you don’t have time to make it now!
Making soup is super easy... chop, sauté, add ingredients and simmer it! If you have some chopping skills, this is the easiest way to feed your family... pretty inexpensive too! Chop all the veggies as shown. Place oil in bottom of large pot over medium high heat for about 3 minutes. Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Sauté these for about 5 – 7 minutes or onions turn translucent in color. Add chopped turkey meat. Give it a few stirs to combine the ingredients.
By now the kitchen smells simply amazing! Add the broth, adding additional water to total ~ 8 cups. If you have extra...no problem! If using fresh thyme, remove leaves carefully from the stems by running your nails/ fingers along the stems, from the thicker stem end to the leafy end... Kinda backwards. If a few tender stems remain, mince herbs a few times to finely chop them. Finely chop the sage leaves too. Sage will give your soup a wonderful savory flavor! Add the soup base, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Stir it all up and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the wild rice or whatever carbohydrate you choose and simmer for 20 – 30 minutes. Test the rice to ensure its tender. Taste it and adjust the seasoning. I usually add salt 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until it’s what I like, and pepper a dash or two.
Now wasn’t that easy and you made it yourself!! Super delicious and nutritious too! Basically, has many of the components of a healthy meal in one bowl! Serve with a salad or sandwich and a bowl of fruit...your family will love it! Try one of these tasty salads too… Mixed Green Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette or Simple Fresh Spinach Salad!
** To freeze, place in plastic or glass containers, leaving 1/2-inch head space for expansion. Label and store for 6 -8 months. Easy to give to the neighbors in glass jars too!