I always roast an extra large turkey for the holidays so that there will be plenty of Thanksgiving leftovers to enjoy in the days to come. I use my leftover turkey meat in dishes such as cheesy turkey casserole, creamy turkey tetrazzini and this delicious turkey rice soup. Turkey and rice soup is the ultimate dinner offering on a cold day, and it’s a great way to use up odds and ends of vegetables that you have on hand!
Turkey Rice Soup Ingredients
This recipe has two components: the broth and the soup itself. To make turkey broth, you’ll need a leftover turkey carcass, vegetables, plenty of fresh herbs like thyme and parsley, and a variety of seasonings. The soup contains the turkey broth, diced turkey, herbs, onion, carrot, celery, butter, garlic, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, long grain rice and fresh parsley.
How Do You Make Turkey And Rice Soup?
Start by preparing the turkey broth. Place the turkey carcass, vegetables and seasonings into a large pot and add water. Let the mixture simmer for 3-4 hours. Strain the solids out of the broth. Next, melt butter in a pot and add onions, carrots and celery. Cook until the vegetables are tender. Add the turkey, seasonings and broth and bring everything to a simmer. Stir in cooked rice, then sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
This recipe includes directions on how to make homemade turkey broth. If you want to skip this step to save time, or are not using leftover turkey, feel free to use store bought chicken broth or turkey broth instead. The recipe calls for dried Italian seasoning, which is a blend of herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme and oregano. This herb mix is readily available in most grocery stores. It is fine to prepare your turkey and rice soup in advance. Make the recipe as directed, but omit the rice. Refrigerate the soup for up to 3 days. Add the cooked rice into the soup when you reheat it. You can also store the soup base in the freezer for up to 2 months in an airtight container. Serve your soup with a side of garlic knots and a wedge salad for a complete meal.
Flavor Variations
This soup is fabulous as-is, but you can also add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Protein: You can easily use diced chicken instead of turkey. Or try ground turkey instead of cubed turkey for a different flavor. Vegetables: Feel free to add extra veggies to your soup. Some good options include zucchini, kale, sweet potatoes, mushrooms or green beans. Flavorings: Add some extra flavor to your broth with additional fresh herbs such as dill or chives. Lemon juice adds a little zing, or kick things up with a splash of hot sauce. Grains: Instead of white rice, you can use brown rice, wild rice blend, other other cooked grains such as farro, quinoa or barley.
This turkey and rice soup is a must-make after the holidays. It has the perfect blend of flavors and textures, and is sure to warm you up on a cold day.
