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.
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Favorite memory is the pine cone turkey I made in kindergarten that is still at the Thanksgiving table every year!
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My favorite thanksgiving memory has to be when my Oma came to the states from Germany to spend the holidays with me and my family. She doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak German but we spent the entire time together just near each other, holding each other, snuggling, crying (it had been a decade since I’ve seen my Oma, at that point). It was one of the happiest thanksgivings I could ever have.
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My grandma’s bell.
My grandma had a gold bell tied to her front door,as soon as you opened the door the bell would ring as you were greeted with the scent of grandmas house on thanksgiving,turkey roasting,pumpkin pies baking.The bell became just as significant to me,when I was little it was so loud and as soon as it rang,we were at my favroite place.
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My favorite memory is about 5 years ago when we had a great Thanksgiving at my Mom’s house with everyone there and then my Mom, Grandma, cousin and I went shopping for Black Friday at 5am.
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Sharing time with friends and family. And I love THE MEAL. It is so hard to wait till the day to eat some of my favorites!
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My favorite Thanksgiving memory is my nieces get to stay with us for the entire weekend! We decorate the Christmas tree and bake and have lots of fun. It all begins on Thanksgiving!
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Every Thanksgiving, my mom makes a delicious meal – and included some Italian food as well. There’s either homemade lasagna or manicotti. But my favorite memory has to be what we forget – the dinner rolls! We buy them every year and forget to put them in the oven no matter how hard we try!
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my favorite thanksgiving memory is going to my grandmas every year!
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I remember Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house. My cousin Jan would fill over half his dinner plate with mashed potatoes….so funny! No one said a word, that always amazed me lol