Skip to main content

TURKEY CARCASS SOUP

Recipe information

  • Yield

    6 - 8

Ingredients

Stock:
Turkey carcass, broken into pieces
Any defatted pan juices or leftover gravy
12 cups of water, or enough to cover the carcass completely
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
2 ribs of celery with leaves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced well-washed leek (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt, if desired
Bouquet garni, made by tying in cheesecloth:
6 sprigs fresh parsley (or 2 tsp. dried parsley flakes)
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
Soup:
1/2 onion, finely copped
2 - 3 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup finely chopped mushrooms
1 1/2 tbsp. flour
6 - 7 cups turkey stock
1 tsp. dried marjoram
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup raw barley or rice
1 cup diced turkey meat
Hot pepper sauce, to taste (optional)
2 tbsp. chopped parsley or chives

Preparation

  1. For the stock, combine all the ingredients in a large stock pot, bring the stock to a boil and simmer it, partially covered for 2 to 3 hours. (It tastes better the longer it simmers, but be careful not to cook away the liquid.)

    Strain the stock; cool, then skim off the fat.

    Remove all of the meat from the bones and refrigerate for adding to the soup later. Discard other vegetables, bones, turkey skin, etc. Makes 10 - 12 cups.

    To make the soup, in a large stockpot saute the onion and garlic in oil until soft. Add the carrots and celery and mushrooms and cook the vegetables for an additional 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.

    Add the flour and stir for one minute.

    Add the stock, marjoram, salt and pepper, and barley or rice. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat, partially cover the pot, and simmer the soup for about 1 hour. Add the turkey meat and hot pepper sauce. Adjust seasonings, and heat the soup to boiling. Sprinkle the soup with parsley just before serving.

Read More
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Like carrot farro salad and chicken paella.
Like miso-peanut hibachi chicken and spring orzotto.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
A crowd-friendly, crisp-edged chicken and vegetable rice from chef José Andrés.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.