Are you wondering what to do with those lingering holiday leftovers? This creamy mushroom kale turkey soup is a game-changer. With its rich flavors, including white wine, garlic, and mushrooms, it’s the perfect way to repurpose that leftover Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas turkey breast. Who says post-holiday comfort food has to be boring? This easy-to-make soup is a crowd-pleaser, packed with a delicious medley of ingredients that will leave everyone cozy and satisfied.
How to Make Leftover Turkey Soup
To create a simple yet flavorful dish, start by melting butter in a Dutch oven over low heat. Once melted, add sliced onion, celery, and garlic, sautéing until the vegetables are tender. Next, introduce sliced mushrooms to the pot, allowing them to cook alongside the aromatics for a few minutes.Following this step, remove the vegetables from the pot and set them aside. In their place, mix in softened cream cheese until fully incorporated. Then, combine chicken broth with flour, salt, pepper, and onion powder to form a roux-like consistency. Add this mixture to the vegetable-cream cheese blend, stirring until smooth.Bring the dish to life by adding white wine, turkey, and a dash of thyme. Simmer everything together under a lid for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the turkey to cook through. Finally, stir in some fresh kale and add a pinch more thyme before serving. Garnish with additional thyme leaves and a sprinkle of black pepper for a pop of color and added depth.
Ideas for Variations
This leftover turkey soup recipe is a staple that will be revisited year after year, offering a delightful alternative to traditional turkey noodle soups. Its versatility allows for effortless modifications, such as substituting chicken for the turkey, or swapping kale with Swiss chard or cabbage. The mushrooms can be replaced with zucchini or broccoli, while mushroom or vegetable broth can take the place of chicken broth or stock. The recipe’s adaptability extends to adding other vegetables like green beans, fresh herbs, or even a bay leaf. You can also incorporate Christmas or Thanksgiving leftovers, including wild or white rice. For added density, consider par-boiling butternut squash or parsnip before incorporating them into the creamy turkey soup. Alternatively, simply cook the soup for a longer period to allow these ingredients to tenderize. This rich and flavorful soup is sure to become a family favorite.
Leftover Turkey Soup FAQs
When it comes to serving this holiday leftovers soup, one option is to pair it with some crusty bread on the side. The combination of turkey, veggies, and bread makes for a satisfying meal. As the soup already contains leftovers, including turkey, it’s essentially a self-contained meal. However, if you’re looking to make it even more filling, a slice or two of bread can provide a nice textural contrast.In terms of shelf life, assuming your leftover turkey is only one or two days old, I recommend storing the prepared soup in an airtight container and using it within 24 hours. Of course, as with many soup recipes, they’re typically best consumed fresh after preparation, when the flavors are at their peak. The aroma alone may be enough to convince you to grab yourself a warm bowlful right away.
Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup Recipe
Creamy Mushroom Kale Turkey Soup
When the holiday season wraps up and you’re left with a plethora of leftovers, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do with them all. But fear not! A delicious solution awaits in the form of creamy mushroom kale turkey soup, a perfect way to repurpose those lingering Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey bits. With prep time clocking in at just 10 minutes and cooking taking only 45 minutes, this recipe is a quick and easy way to transform your leftover turkey into a mouthwatering meal that’s sure to please. And with 9 servings, you can share the love (or not) and enjoy the fruits of your labor. The combination of tender turkey, rich mushrooms, and nutritious kale makes for a soup that’s both satisfying and healthy. So go ahead, get creative, and turn those leftovers into a culinary masterpiece.
Instructions
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat, then set it aside once melted. Next, add diced onion, celery, and garlic to the pot, stirring frequently as they sauté for five minutes. Add sliced mushrooms to the mix and cook for an additional 5 minutes before draining the vegetables and returning them to the pot. Now it’s time to incorporate the cream cheese, stirring until it’s fully melted into the veggie mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk together chicken broth, flour, salt, pepper, and onion powder until smooth, then pour the mixture into the Dutch oven. After that, add in the turkey and white wine, stirring well before covering the pot and letting it simmer for 20 minutes. Finally, stir in some fresh kale and thyme leaves, allowing them to cook for a further 10 minutes before serving. Finish off your dish with a sprinkle of freshly cracked pepper and a few sprigs of thyme.