Description
This comforting Leftover Turkey Soup transforms leftover turkey into a hearty, flavorful meal. Featuring a medley of sautéed vegetables, tender turkey, aromatic herbs, and pearl couscous simmered in rich turkey stock, this soup is perfect for warming up on chilly days or using up holiday leftovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 onion (or 2 shallots), chopped
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 sprigs thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried thyme)
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)
- 6 cups turkey or chicken stock
- 2 cups cooked turkey or chicken, shredded or chopped
- 1/2 cup giant/pearl couscous
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil and butter over low heat in a large pot. Add the chopped onion, celery, carrots, and minced garlic. Cook gently for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened but not browned, which brings out their natural sweetness and forms the soup’s flavor base.
- Add Stock and Turkey: Pour in the turkey or chicken stock along with the cooked turkey and bay leaves. Increase heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Season with salt and pepper to your taste, ensuring the soup is well balanced.
- Cook Couscous: Stir in the pearl couscous, reduce heat to medium, and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes. Cook until the couscous is tender and has absorbed some of the flavorful broth, enhancing the soup’s heartiness.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the soup from heat, discard bay leaves and thyme stems if using fresh. Stir in the chopped parsley for freshness and garnish. Serve the soup hot for a warming, nourishing meal.
Notes
- Using pearl couscous adds a delightful texture and cooks quickly, but regular small pasta or rice can be substituted.
- Leftover turkey can be replaced with leftover chicken or even ham for a different flavor profile.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute couscous with quinoa or gluten-free pasta.
- The soup can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Adjust seasoning at the end, especially after adding stock and meat, to ensure perfect flavor balance.
