Turkey and Potato Soup
A classic homemade soup from Thanksgiving leftovers and hearty root vegetables.
One thing that stands out in my mind from holidays as a child, the soup. Or rather, the leftovers turned into soup. After Thanksgiving was over and bellies were full, my mom would save the turkey bones for soup. I remember her chopping up veggies and adding them to the pot along with what remained of the turkey. The aromas were perfect and wafted through the house. How can you not love freshly made stock or soup?
But that’s where my memory stops. Like mother like daughter, some items are made for yourself or for someone specific in the house. I don’t remember ever eating the soup but it did smell great. I’m sure it was the vegetables holding me back. Again, like mother like daughter since my oldest won’t touch veggies in her soup, just the noodles and broth. Can’t entirely say I blame her.
Recreating that childhood memory, one that I’m sure is common in many homes, I made soup. Only I went a step further, being a food blogger I didn’t make a turkey for the sake of making a turkey. Nope, I made a turkey for the sake of leftovers. Craziness I know but thankfully turkeys don’t require a ton of work. Even better, I got a crazy deal on a turkey last year and it’s been sitting in our deep freezer ever since.
So be prepared for a few more awesome turkey leftover recipes just in time for Thanksgiving. As awesome as cold turkey leftovers are, sometimes a good recipe for them is even better. As for this soup, it’s your classic homemade turkey noodle soup with deep flavor and chunks of tender potatoes throughout. In the future I might choose to leave out the noodles, because they have a habit of sucking up all of the liquid but it still tastes seriously amazing. Canned soup has nothing on homemade!
Homemade Turkey and Potato Soup
Ingredients
Stock ingredients:
- 1 turkey carcass
- 2 1/2 - 3 quarts water
- 1 yellow onion
- 3 celery stalks
- 3 carrots
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Soup ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/4 C celery chopped
- 1 1/4 C carrots chopped
- 1 C yellow onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
- Reserved turkey stock
- 3 C potatoes peeled and chopped
- 2 C leftover turkey
- 1 C pasta optional
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven of stockpot, add all stock ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 1 hour. Carefully remove bones, discard. Pour remaining liquid through a mesh strainer, into a large bowl or stockpot. Press liquid out of vegetables, then discard. Clean Dutch oven.
- Heat olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add vegetables, cooking until lightly browned or roughly 4-5 minutes. Add bay leaves and seasonings, cooking for 1 minute. Add potatoes and turkey stock, bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
- Meanwhile, shred turkey and set aside. If desired, cook pasta separately until nearly done. Add turkey and optional pasta to Dutch oven, cooking for an additional 5-10 minutes. Skim off any foam. Discard bay leaves and divide among bowls.
Notes
I had the chance to try out Calphalon’s new AccuCore Roaster and AccuCore Dutch oven. When they first arrived I was surprised by the weight of the roaster! It’s not your average super lightweight and flimsy roaster. This one has weight to it, which is perfect considering it’s meant to hold up to a 25lb turkey! For a full description on the AccuCore line, read this. Not only is the line beautiful (and can act as a mirror in a pinch) but they cleaned up easily too.
Dutch ovens remind me of soup and chili, which beyond my childhood memories is what lead me to making soup in Calphalon’s new AccuCore Dutch oven. It was meant to be. I love this for it’s beauty and easy of use. It heated wonderfully but best of all it can go from stovetop (to oven) to table.
**GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**
Giveaway details:
Courtesy of Calphalon one Baked by Rachel reader will win (1) one AccuCore Roaster and (1) one AccuCore Dutch oven. Giveaway is valued at $330.
This giveaway is open until Wednesday November 14th, 2012 at 11:59 EST. Winner must be at least 18 years old and a US resident. Winner will be randomly selected and emailed. Winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Main entry must be completed or extra entries will not count.
*Disclaimer: I received product to review and use in my home. All opinions are my own. Giveaway is sponsored by Calphalon.
My favorite Thanksgiving memories always involve sharing what we are all thankful for around the table. Lots of love in the room that I cherish!
My daughter was born almost 35 years ago a week before Thanksgiving. I remember feeling happy but sad that I would not be able to travel for Thanksgiving with my family. I was thrilled when all my family piled into their cars with food in hand and traveled to be with us. Will never forget that Thanksgiving.
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My favorite memory is 4 years ago, when I went to my fiancé’s parents house for the first time. We have a very small family woo Thanksgiving was never a big holiday. Now I have a huge family to share it with!
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My favorite part of Thanksgiving is remembering how much it was my dad’s favorite holiday and how much he always looked forward to it.
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My favorite memory is driving 4 hours to my grandma’s house and seeing all my cousins and Aunt and Uncle’s. grandma had a really long dining table where all the adults ate and the kids had an assortment of little tables to sit at. The food was wonderful and time spent with family even better.
Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. Helping my mother make the gravy from scratch. House smelling amazing.
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My favorite Thanksgiving memory is of this one year we decided to make a french silk pie, to be a little non-traditional. We all were super excited for dessert, we almost forgot to enjoy the main meal. When the pie was coming out of the kitchen, my aunt tripped and it feel flat on the floor! We all had a good laugh and a pie of back-up pie, pumpkin!
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Growing up my dad always had the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on and now my almost grown kids talk about having the same memory with me.
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Making different yummy foods with my mom.
MY favorite memories for Thanksgiving have always been about watching the Macy’s parade in my PJ’s while baking with my mom. Now that I have my own children we watch the parade in pjs and bake together and I now get to see it through their eyes! Love it!
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My fondest Thanksgiving memory is from my childhood–watching my grandmother, mother and aunt prepare dinner and feeling like I couldn’t wait until dinner was served! My favorite Thankgiving dishes are their southern cornbread stuffing and candied sweet potatoes–yum!
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Linking to you in a post on my blog! I couldn’t make exactly this recipe, but I was inspired by this as a way to use up some Thanksgiving leftovers.
Thanks for sharing! I’m glad you enjoyed it :)