Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
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Thanksgiving at our house means not one, but two turkeys – one expertly smoked, the other perfectly roasted in the oven. I tell myself this is to ensure we have ample feast for family and friends, but let’s be real, it’s all about the leftovers. The same reason I always make an extra batch of stuffing! This Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup recipe is the perfect way to use your holiday turkey surplus.
For some reason, creamy soups always seem a little intimidating to make. This recipe could not be any easier and cooking time only takes 45 minutes.
How to Make Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Start by heating your butter and oil in a Dutch Oven or large saucepan. I like to use both butter and oil as the oil has a higher smoke point and helps to keep the butter from burning while sautéing the vegetables. Add in the chopped carrots, celery, onion, and fresh thyme. Enjoy the aromatics as they sauté to tender perfection.
Heart of the Soup
Introduce the chicken stock or broth and the rice. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and allow to gently simmer for 30-40 minutes until the rice is tender.
Being from Minnesota and the fact there are more acres of natural wild rice in Minnesota than in any other state in the country, it is one of my favorite kinds of rice to use in soups and other dishes. Wild rice has a bit of a nutty and smokey flavor with a chewy but tender texture perfect for those comfort food dishes. Have you ever tried a wild rice bratwurst? Delicious!
If you prefer you can also substitute brown rice or even a wild rice blend is a nice option.
Create the Creamy Goodness
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and half-and-half until smooth. Slowly pour this concoction into the soup while staring constantly. Heat through for another 5-6 minutes to thicken.
Star of the Show
Once the soup has thickened, add the shredded turkey to the mix, letting it simmer for an additional 3-4 minutes to heat through. I will use a mix of both juicy flavorful dark meat and milder white meat. Also, we smoke one of our Thanksgiving turkeys so some of that smoked meat adds an unbelievable layer of flavor to the soup.
Now if you have had one too many leftover turkey sandwiches and depleted your leftover turkey rations, don’t worry. You can also use chicken breast or even leftover rotisserie chicken from last night’s dinner.
If smoked turkey in your Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup sounds good check out our recipe for Texas-Style Smoked Turkey Breast. Seasoned with only salt and pepper and slow-smoked to perfection, this would make a great addition to this flavorful soup.
Savor your culinary masterpiece and fine-tune the seasoning to your liking. Now, take a seat and relish a comforting bowl of Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup!
Check out a few of our other favorite soup recipes!
Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Avocado Oil
- ½ cup Carrots chopped
- ½ cup Celery chopped
- ½ cup Yellow Onion chopped
- 1 tsp Fresh Thyme or ¼ tsp dried thyme
- 6 cup Chicken Stock or Broth
- ¾ cup Uncooked Wild Rice
- 2 tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 cup Half and Half
- ⅓ cup All-Purpose Flour
- 3-4 cup Cooked Shredded Turkey
Instructions
Preparing the Wild Rice
- Place the wild rice in a bowl filled with enough water to cover the rice and let sit on the kitchen count for about 2 – 3 hours.
- Soaking wild rice cuts down on the cooking time.
- When ready to use, drain the rice thoroughly.
Creating the Turkey Wild Rice Soup
- In enameled Dutch oven or a 6-quart saucepan, heat the oil and butter over medium heat.
- Add the chopped vegetables and fresh thyme. Sauté until they begin to soften, about 4 – 5 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken stock or both and add the drained wild rice. Add salt and pepper. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Allow it to simmer for 30 – 40 minutes until the rice is tender.
- In a separate bowl, blend the flour and half-and-half until smooth.
- Slowly pour the flour and half-and-half mixture into the soup while constantly stirring.
- Continue to simmer the soup until it thicken, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Add the cooked shredded turkey and simmer for an additional 3-4 minutes to heat through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Enjoy a bowl of Creamy Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup, perfect for utilizing holiday leftovers!
Notes
- If the soup becomes too thick, stir in additional chicken stock or broth to get the desired consistency.
- If the soup is too thin, add flour to thicken it. Make sure to cook a few minutes longer to cook the raw taste of the flour out.
- If you do not have leftover turkey, cooked chicken breast or leftover rotisserie chicken works great.
I made this wild rice soup, with chicken for my friends Christmas party and they all loved it. So good and easy to make.