Description
A comforting and hearty Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup that transforms leftover turkey into a delicious meal. This soup features a medley of vegetables, wild rice, and mushrooms in a creamy broth, perfect for using up turkey after a feast.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3 sticks celery, chopped
- 7 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids & Fats
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (optional)
Grains & Meat
- 1 cup uncooked wild rice
- 2 cups cooked turkey meat, shredded or cut up
Seasonings & Thickener
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or more to taste)
- 3 heaping tablespoons flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Chop the onion, carrots, and celery roughly to ready them for sautéing in the next step.
- Sauté Base: Heat olive oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables soften.
- Add Flavors and Flour: Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and flour, cooking for 1-2 minutes to develop the base and cook out the raw flour taste.
- Add Broth: Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until the flour is fully dissolved, creating a smooth soup base.
- Add Wild Rice: Stir the uncooked wild rice into the soup mixture to begin cooking it.
- Simmer Rice: Increase heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Then cover the pot with the lid slightly ajar and reduce heat to maintain a gentle boil for 15 minutes to partially cook the rice.
- Prepare Turkey and Mushrooms: While rice simmers, shred or cut up the cooked turkey and slice the mushrooms.
- Add Turkey and Mushrooms: Add turkey meat and sliced mushrooms to the soup. Bring it back to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, covering the pot with lid slightly ajar. Continue cooking for 15-20 minutes until the wild rice is tender but still slightly chewy.
- Finish with Cream and Season: Stir in heavy whipping cream if using, then season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Notes
- Wild rice retains a bit of chewiness even when fully cooked; adjust cooking time for preferred texture.
- The cream is optional and can be omitted for a lighter soup.
- Use leftover cooked turkey to keep prep efficient and add rich flavor.
- Italian seasoning can be adjusted or substituted with herbs like thyme or rosemary.
- For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour or cornstarch instead of all-purpose flour for thickening.
