Leftover Turkey Soup with Kale and Wild Rice
Don’t let any part of your turkey go to waste with this Leftover Turkey Soup with Kale and Wild Rice. A healthy Thanksgiving leftover recipe made with leftover turkey, kale, carrots, peas, celery, onions and wild rice.
Let’s be honest, most people go a little overboard on Thanksgiving. So when you are thinking about your Thanksgiving Leftovers you may be looking for something light and healthy. This Leftover Turkey Soup with Kale and Wild Rice is just the thing! Made with a homemade turkey broth, leftover turkey meat, vegetables and wild rice, it’s a cozy and nutritious bowl of soup!
How to Make Turkey Broth from Turkey Carcass
What’s great about making turkey soup with your leftover turkey is that you can use the whole carcass to make the broth. Add the turkey carcass to a large pot and cover it with water. Add bay leaves, poultry seasoning, onion power and garlic salt for flavoring. Bring the pot to boil and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 4 hours, your house will smell just as wonderful as it did when the turkey was baking in the oven and you have a cozy bowl of soup to look forward to!
What goes in to Leftover Turkey Soup?
Onions and Shallots – Added mostly for flavor, sautéd and simmered in the broth. If you don’t have shallots, omit or add garlic instead.
Carrots and Celery – Both add substance, nutrients and flavor, the carrots also add a pop of color!
Wild Rice – Add the rice uncooked and it will cook and absorb broth while the soup simmers. Because the rice absorbs some of the broth it makes the soup thick and hearty. You can substitute noodles, if you do so add them cooked at the end with the turkey, kale and peas.
Leftover Turkey – Reserve 3 cups worth of turkey meat from your turkey leftovers and cut into bite sized pieces to add to the soup.
Kale – Kale cooks quickly and should be added at the end, it is full of good nutrients and gives the soup extra texture and color.
Peas – Also cook quickly, add them at the end. They add a nice pop of sweetness.
How Long Does Leftover Turkey Soup Last in the Fridge?
This leftover turkey soup will keep well in the refrigerator for about 4 to 5 days. Make sure you store it in an airtight container. It is best reheated on the stove. Add desired amount of soup to a small pot and cook over medium heat, until the soup is warmed through.
Can I freeze Leftover Turkey Soup?
Yes, this leftover turkey soup can be frozen. Be sure to cool the soup to room temperature before putting it in the freezer. Store it in an airtight container, it will last up to 3 months frozen.
When you are ready to eat it, let it thaw in the refrigerator. Reheat it in a pot on the stove over medium heat until warmed through.
Leftover Turkey Soup with Kale and Wild Rice
Description
Don’t let any part of your turkey go to waste with this Leftover Turkey Soup with Wild Rice. A healthy Thanksgiving leftover recipe made with leftover turkey, kale, carrots, peas, celery, onions and wild rice.
Ingredients
3 cups turkey meat
1 turkey carcass
8 cups water
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic salt
2 whole bay leaves
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups yellow onion, chopped small
1/4 cup shallot, diced
1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced thin
1 cup celery, chopped small
1/2 cup wild rice
2 cups kale, chopped small
1/2 cup peas
oyster crackers (optional)
Instructions
Cut any remaining meat off your turkey, cut 3 cups worth of turkey meat into bite sized pieces, set aside
On the stove top, place your turkey carcass in a large pot* and pour in the water
Add the poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic salt and bay leaves
Turn the heat on to medium-high and bring to a rapid boil
Reduce heat to simmer
Simmer for 4 hours
Strain to remove the turkey carcass and the bay leaves, set turkey broth aside
**Add butter to a dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat
Once butter is melted, add the onions and shallot, sauté 2-3 minutes
Add in the carrots and celery, sauté 1-2 more minutes
Pour in the wild rice and the turkey broth
Increase heat to medium-high, bring soup to a rapid boil
Reduce to a simmer for 1 hour
Add in the 3 cups reserved turkey meat, kale and peas
Serve hot with oyster crackers (optional)
Notes
*Needs to be large enough that the whole turkey carcass fits below the rim and can be covered with water
**If you don’t want to use your turkey carcass to make broth, use 8 cups turkey stalk and start recipe at this step
- Category: soup
Keywords: #leftoverturkey, #thanksgivingleftovers, #turkeysoup, #wintersoups, #comfortfood, #souprecipes
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