Turkey Wild Rice Soup

This turkey wild rice soup with a creamy broth, tender rice, and chunks of turkey will warm your home and your heart. Save your Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey leftovers and make this soup anytime you're in need of a true comfort food. I created this easy recipe using leftover turkey and homemade turkey broth that I had frozen.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings 8 people

Equipment

1 Soup Pot A heavy-bottomed pot to prevent scorching
1 Whisk Essential for creating a smooth roux and preventing lumps
1 Cutting Board
1 Chef's knife For dicing vegetables and chopping turkey
1 Measuring Cups and Spoons

Ingredients

Main

6 tablespoons butter
¼ cup diced onion
¼ cup diced celery
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
4 cups turkey broth
⅓ cup shredded carrots
2 cups chopped leftover roasted turkey
2 cups cooked wild rice
¼ cup chopped slivered almonds
½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
½ teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
½ teaspoon lemon juice
¾ cup half-and-half

Instructions

Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Melt butter in a soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Stir in flour, and cook until it turns a pale, yellowish-brown color, 3 to 5 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Gradually whisk in turkey stock until smooth and no lumps of flour remain. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Stir in carrot and bring mixture to a simmer. Cook, whisking constantly, until stock is thick and smooth and carrots are tender, about 2 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Stir in turkey, wild rice, almonds, salt, and pepper; simmer until heated through, about 5 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Stir in lemon juice and half-and-half; heat until just below a boil. Serve immediately. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

1. Achieving the correct roux is crucial: cook the flour long enough to remove the raw taste but not so long that it darkens excessively, which can impart a bitter flavor. Whisk constantly. 2. When incorporating the broth, add it gradually, whisking vigorously to ensure a perfectly smooth base without any lumps. 3. For an elevated flavor profile, homemade turkey broth is highly recommended. 4. Be mindful when adding the half-and-half; heat until just below a boil and do not let it come to a rolling boil, as this can cause the dairy to curdle and separate. 5. Always taste and adjust seasoning at the end to balance the flavors.