Transform your post-holiday turkey into a culinary masterpiece with this incredibly comforting **Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup**. This soul-warming dish is the perfect way to revitalize your remaining turkey carcass and turn it into a flavorful, hearty meal that’s both easy to prepare and deeply satisfying. Crafted entirely in one pot, this recipe minimizes cleanup while maximizing taste, featuring a rich, creamy broth, tender turkey pieces, vibrant vegetables, and wholesome wild rice. It’s not only a fantastic meal for today but also brilliantly freezer-friendly, making it an ideal candidate for efficient meal prep. Say goodbye to food waste and hello to a delicious, nourishing soup that the whole family will adore.
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There’s an undeniable magic in creating something wonderful from what’s already on hand. This philosophy often guides my kitchen adventures, especially when it comes to crafting delicious soups. If you possess the fundamental building blocks of soup—carrots, celery, onion, and broth—you’re already well on your way to a fantastic meal. The beauty of soup lies in its adaptability; these core vegetables can be easily swapped for whatever you have in your fridge, making it an incredibly forgiving and versatile dish. This recipe leverages that inherent simplicity, turning humble leftovers into a gourmet experience that feels both comforting and surprisingly elegant.
Table of Contents
Choosing the Right Spices for Your Turkey Soup
Spices are the soul of any soup, and for this **Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup**, a thoughtful selection can elevate the flavors from good to truly extraordinary. While the basic mirepoix (carrots, celery, onion) lays a fantastic aromatic foundation, the right herbs and seasonings tie everything together, infusing the broth with warmth and depth. For this recipe, we lean on classic, comforting flavors that complement turkey beautifully.
- Thyme: Earthy, minty, and slightly lemon-like, thyme is a natural partner for poultry and often found in traditional stuffing, making it a perfect match for leftover turkey. It brings a subtle herbaceous note that brightens the entire dish.
- Oregano: With its robust, slightly bitter, and peppery notes, oregano adds a Mediterranean warmth. It pairs wonderfully with the richness of turkey and the other vegetables, contributing to a well-rounded flavor profile.
- Salt: Essential for seasoning, salt not only enhances existing flavors but also balances the creaminess and the earthiness of the wild rice. Adjust to your preference and the saltiness of your broth.
- Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a gentle heat and aromatic complexity that can’t be achieved with pre-ground versions. It provides a subtle counterpoint to the creamy base.
Beyond these staples, feel free to personalize your soup with your favorite herbs and spices. Consider a touch of sage for a more traditional Thanksgiving flavor, a pinch of rosemary for an aromatic boost, or even a hint of smoked paprika for a deeper, more complex undertone. The beauty is in making it your own!
How to Cook Wild Rice Perfectly
Wild rice, despite its name, isn’t actually rice but rather the seed of an aquatic grass. It boasts a wonderfully chewy texture and a distinct nutty, earthy flavor that makes it a standout ingredient in this creamy soup. Proper cooking ensures it’s tender yet still offers that satisfying bite without becoming mushy.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to rinse the wild rice thoroughly before cooking. This simple step removes any starch or debris, ensuring a cleaner flavor and better texture. I find a fine-mesh strainer incredibly helpful for this task, allowing water to pass through easily while retaining every precious grain.
Instant Pot Method (Recommended for Ease)
For a foolproof and hands-off approach, the Instant Pot is my preferred method. It delivers perfectly cooked wild rice every time.
- **Ratio:** Combine 2 cups of rinsed wild rice with 4 cups of water in your Instant Pot. Adding a pinch of salt (about ¼ teaspoon) to the cooking water enhances the rice’s natural flavor.
- **Cooking Time:** Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 30 minutes.
- **Release Method:** Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes before manually releasing any remaining pressure. This natural release method helps the grains steam perfectly and prevents them from becoming too firm.
Stovetop Method
If you don’t have an Instant Pot, cooking wild rice on the stovetop is equally effective, though it requires a bit more attention.
- **Follow Package Instructions:** Always refer to the specific cooking instructions on your wild rice packaging, as cooking times and water ratios can vary slightly by brand.
- **General Method:** Typically, you’ll combine 1 cup of rinsed wild rice with 3 cups of water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45-60 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has started to burst open. Drain any excess liquid.
For ultimate convenience, you can even purchase pre-cooked, packaged wild rice that simply needs to be microwaved or gently heated. Whichever method you choose, ensure your wild rice is cooked to a delightful tenderness before adding it to the soup.
Properly Storing Leftover Turkey for Soup
The beauty of this **Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** truly shines when it makes good use of leftover turkey. Proper storage of your cooked turkey is paramount to both safety and flavor, ensuring it’s ready and delicious when you’re ready to make your soup.
Short-Term Refrigeration
If you plan to use your leftover turkey within a few days (typically 3-4 days), refrigerate it promptly. After carving, separate the meat from the carcass and store it in airtight containers. This prevents spoilage and keeps the turkey fresh for your soup.
Long-Term Freezing
For longer storage, freezing is your best option. Cooked turkey can be safely stored in the freezer for up to 2-6 months. To freeze, portion the turkey into meal-sized servings, ideally in freezer-safe bags or containers, ensuring as much air as possible is removed to prevent freezer burn. Label with the date for easy tracking.
Preparing Frozen or Refrigerated Turkey for Soup
When it’s time to incorporate your stored turkey into the soup, a little preparation goes a long way:
- Thawing Frozen Turkey: If using frozen turkey, transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator a day or two before you plan to make the soup to allow for slow, safe thawing. Alternatively, you can use the defrost setting on your microwave if you’re in a hurry, ensuring it’s cooked immediately after.
- Bringing to Room Temperature: For both refrigerated and thawed turkey, allow the portion you’ll use for the soup to sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes before adding it to the pot. This step is crucial for promoting even heating during the reheating process. Starting with turkey that isn’t ice-cold helps prevent some areas from becoming overly dry while others remain cold, ensuring uniformly tender and flavorful turkey throughout your soup.
- Shred or Cube: Depending on your preference, shred the turkey meat into tender strands or cut it into bite-sized cubes. Both textures work beautifully in this hearty soup.
The Best Vegetables to Use in Turkey Wild Rice Soup
The foundation of any great soup begins with its aromatic vegetables. For this **Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup**, we build on classic flavors, but the beauty of soup lies in its flexibility. Here are the core vegetables that provide a rich, savory base, along with ideas for expanding your vegetable medley.
- Carrots: Sweet and vibrant, carrots add a touch of natural sweetness and beautiful color to the soup. They soften wonderfully during simmering and provide essential nutrients.
- Celery: With its crisp texture and distinctive, slightly peppery flavor, celery is a critical component of the “mirepoix” (the classic French aromatic base). It contributes depth and a fresh undertone.
- Onions: The backbone of nearly every savory dish, onions bring a foundational sweetness and pungency once sautéed. They caramelize slightly, adding immense flavor to the broth.
- Garlic: While not listed in the original bullet points, minced garlic is an absolute must for building a complex flavor profile. Added after the initial sauté, it releases its potent aroma and enhances all other ingredients.
- Greens (like spinach, kale, collards, etc.): Incorporating greens towards the end of cooking adds freshness, a boost of vitamins, and a lovely pop of color. Spinach wilts quickly and seamlessly blends in, while kale or collard greens will retain a bit more texture and require a slightly longer simmer. Choose your favorite or a mix!
This combination creates a balanced flavor profile that perfectly complements the rich turkey and nutty wild rice. However, don’t hesitate to experiment with other vegetables you might have on hand. Peas, corn, diced potatoes, or even bell peppers can all make delicious additions, adding both flavor and substance to your one-pot meal.
How to Make Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Crafting this hearty and flavorful **Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** is a straightforward, one-pot process that minimizes cleanup and maximizes enjoyment. Follow these steps to create a rich, comforting meal that will become a staple in your kitchen.
For detailed measurements and full instructions, please refer to the comprehensive recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
- Build the Flavor Base: Begin by placing a Dutch oven or a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot over medium-high heat. Add a touch of olive oil. Once shimmering, add the finely diced carrots, celery, and onions. Sauté these aromatic vegetables for approximately 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they become translucent and wonderfully fragrant. This step is crucial for developing the foundational flavors of your soup.
- Introduce the Garlic: Next, stir in the minced garlic. Continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn it, as burnt garlic can turn bitter. The kitchen will fill with an inviting aroma at this stage.
- Combine All Ingredients: Now, it’s time to bring the soup together. Pour in the broth, then add the pre-cooked wild rice, your delicious leftover cooked turkey (cubed or shredded), and the selected herbs: thyme and oregano. For the creamy element, stir in the milk, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Enhance the flavor further with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of lemon zest, and a teaspoon of Better Than Bouillon (if using, for an extra layer of savory depth). Finally, add the fresh spinach or mixed greens, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir everything well to thoroughly combine all the ingredients.
- Simmer to Perfection: Reduce the heat to medium, place a lid on the pot, and allow the soup to gently simmer for 15-20 minutes. This simmering period is essential for all the flavors to meld beautifully and for the creamy components to fully integrate into the broth. The vegetables will become perfectly tender, the turkey will be thoroughly heated, and the greens will wilt into the rich broth.
- Cool and Serve: Once the soup is hot and the ingredients are well combined, remove it from the heat. Allow it to cool slightly before serving to let the flavors settle and prevent accidental burns. Serve warm, perhaps with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a crusty bread on the side.
Achieving the Perfect Creamy Texture
The hallmark of this **Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** is its luxurious, velvety texture. This rich consistency isn’t just a happy accident; it’s achieved through a carefully balanced combination of dairy products, each playing a specific role in creating that desirable mouthfeel and flavor.
My preferred method involves a trio of creamy components:
- Milk: As the primary liquid base, milk (any variety, from whole milk to almond milk) contributes to the overall volume and initial creaminess without being overly heavy. It helps to thin the soup to the right consistency while adding a foundational milky richness.
- Heavy Cream: This is where the true indulgence comes in. Heavy cream is essential for imparting a decadent, silken texture and a depth of flavor that can’t be matched. Its high-fat content ensures a stable emulsion and a truly satisfying creaminess that coats the palate beautifully.
- Cream Cheese: A secret weapon for many creamy soups, cream cheese adds tanginess and an incredible thickness that emulsifies into the soup, making it exceptionally smooth and preventing separation. It also provides a subtle savory depth that complements the other ingredients.
When combined, these three ingredients work in harmony to create a soup that is wonderfully creamy, rich, and comforting, without being overly heavy. The result is a spoon-licking consistency that will have everyone reaching for seconds.
Dairy-Free Alternatives for Creamy Soup
For those who prefer or require a dairy-free version of this delicious **Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup**, achieving a rich, creamy texture is absolutely possible with a few simple substitutions. The key is to select alternatives that can mimic the fat content and consistency of traditional dairy.
The most effective substitute for both milk and heavy cream in this recipe is **full-fat coconut milk**. Here’s why it works so well:
- Richness: Full-fat coconut milk has a high-fat content, similar to heavy cream, which provides the necessary richness and body for a truly creamy soup. It creates a luscious texture that won’t feel watered down.
- Flavor: While coconut milk does have a distinct flavor, it mellows significantly when cooked in a savory soup, especially alongside robust ingredients like turkey, wild rice, and herbs. It adds a subtle, exotic depth rather than an overpowering coconut taste.
- Consistency: Its natural thickness helps to emulsify the soup, preventing a thin or watery result.
When substituting, use an equal amount of full-fat canned coconut milk for the combined quantity of milk and heavy cream. For instance, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of milk and ½ cup of heavy cream, use 1½ cups of full-fat coconut milk. You can also omit the cream cheese or substitute it with a dairy-free cream cheese alternative for a similar tang and thickness, if desired. Be sure to stir well to fully incorporate the coconut milk and achieve a uniform, creamy consistency.
How to Cook Turkey Breast (If You Don’t Have Leftovers)
While this recipe is designed to be a fantastic way to utilize **leftover turkey**, there’s no need to miss out on this delicious **Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** if you don’t have any on hand! You can easily prepare fresh turkey breast to use in the soup, and there are several quick and efficient methods to ensure it’s tender and flavorful.
For quick and succulent turkey breast, I highly recommend checking out these dedicated recipes:
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast: This method yields incredibly juicy and tender turkey breast with minimal effort and in a fraction of the time compared to traditional oven roasting. It’s perfect for smaller cuts and results in a beautiful golden-brown exterior.
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast: For a truly hands-off and moist result, the Instant Pot is unbeatable. It pressure cooks turkey breast to perfection, making it incredibly tender and easy to shred or cube for your soup.
Simply cook your turkey breast using one of these methods, then shred or cube the cooked meat to the desired consistency before adding it to your soup. This ensures you still get all the rich turkey flavor and protein, even if you’re starting from scratch. These recipes provide excellent standalone meals too, so you might just find a new favorite way to prepare turkey!
Creative Substitutions and Delicious Add-ins
One of the greatest joys of making soup, especially a versatile dish like this **Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup**, is the freedom to customize it to your liking. Whether you’re looking to enhance flavors, add more nutrients, or simply use up what you have in the fridge, a wide array of substitutions and add-ins can transform your soup experience.
Additional Vegetables for Heartiness and Flavor:
Beyond the classic mirepoix and greens, many vegetables can bolster your soup.
- Mushrooms: Sautéed mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, or even wild varieties) add a deep umami flavor and a meaty texture. Add them with your initial aromatics.
- Peas: Sweet and tender, frozen peas can be stirred in during the last few minutes of simmering for a pop of color and freshness.
- Green Beans: Fresh or frozen, cut green beans provide a crisp-tender bite and a subtle earthy flavor. Add with the broth for proper cooking.
- Corn: Both fresh and frozen corn kernels add a touch of sweetness and vibrant color. Stir in towards the end.
- Diced Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes: For an even heartier soup, add diced potatoes (like Yukon Gold) or sweet potatoes, ensuring they are cooked through until tender. Add them with the broth.
Herbs for Aromatic Depth:
While thyme and oregano are fantastic, other herbs can layer more complexity.
- Rosemary: A fragrant, piney herb that pairs exceptionally well with turkey. Use sparingly as it can be potent.
- Sage: A classic Thanksgiving herb, sage offers a warm, earthy flavor that beautifully complements poultry.
- Parsley: Fresh chopped parsley stirred in at the end brightens the soup with a fresh, herbaceous note.
Cheeses for Extra Creaminess and Tang:
If you’re looking to boost the cheesy factor beyond cream cheese, consider these additions.
- Grated Parmesan: A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese at the end adds a salty, umami kick and extra richness.
- Cheddar: Shredded cheddar cheese can be stirred in for a more pronounced cheesy flavor and a thicker texture.
- Swiss: Swiss cheese offers a nutty, slightly sweet profile that melts beautifully into creamy soups.
Savory Toppings and Textural Delights:
Enhance each bowl with exciting toppings.
- Bacon: Crumbled crispy bacon adds a smoky, salty crunch that perfectly contrasts the creamy soup.
- Chopped Almonds or Pine Nuts: Toasted nuts introduce a delightful crunch and nutty flavor, echoing the wild rice.
- Cranberries: A surprising but delicious addition! Dried cranberries offer a tart-sweet counterpoint that harks back to holiday flavors.
- Hot Sauce: For those who enjoy a bit of a kick, a dash of your favorite hot sauce can add a fantastic layer of heat and complexity.
Experimenting with these options allows you to make this already delicious **Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** uniquely yours, ensuring no two bowls are ever exactly the same, yet always comforting and satisfying.
Storage and Reheating Tips for Your Soup
One of the many benefits of this **Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** is how well it stores, making it an excellent choice for meal prep or enjoying flavorful leftovers throughout the week. Proper storage ensures its longevity and maintains its delicious taste.
How Long Will it Last in the Fridge?
Once prepared, your **Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** will last beautifully in the refrigerator for approximately 3-4 days. To ensure optimal freshness and safety, transfer the cooled soup to an airtight container. This prevents the absorption of other odors from your fridge and keeps the soup at its best.
How to Reheat
Reheating the soup is simple, whether you’re warming up a single serving or a larger batch:
- Microwave: For individual portions, transfer the desired amount of soup to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat on high in 60-90 second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. Be cautious not to overheat, as this can sometimes cause creamy soups to separate slightly.
- Stovetop: For larger quantities or a more gentle reheat, transfer the soup to a saucepan or Dutch oven. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until warmed through. If the soup appears too thick after refrigeration, you can add a splash of extra broth or milk to achieve your desired consistency. Avoid boiling the soup vigorously, as this can affect the texture of the cream.
Always ensure the soup is piping hot before serving to ensure food safety and the best flavor experience. A gentle reheat is always recommended for creamy soups to maintain their smooth texture.
Freezer-Friendly Meal Prep Tips
This **Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** is not only delicious but also incredibly freezer-friendly, making it a fantastic candidate for efficient meal preparation. Having pre-portioned, homemade soup ready in your freezer is a game-changer for busy weeknights or when you simply crave a comforting, nutritious meal without the effort.
Best Practices for Freezing Creamy Soup:
- Cool Completely: Before freezing, it is absolutely essential to allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature. Freezing hot soup can lower the temperature of your freezer, potentially thawing other items, and can also lead to an inferior texture upon thawing.
- Choose the Right Containers: Select freezer-safe containers that are airtight. You can use:
- Freezer Soup Molds: I highly recommend using dedicated soup molds from Amazon. These often create individual, perfectly portioned blocks of soup that are easy to store and thaw.
- Freezer Bags: Heavy-duty freezer bags are great for flat storage, saving space. Lay them flat on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then stack them.
- Airtight Containers: Glass or plastic freezer-safe containers also work well. Leave a little headspace (about an inch) to allow for expansion as the soup freezes.
- Label and Date: Always label your containers with the name of the soup and the date it was frozen. This helps you keep track of your freezer inventory and ensures you consume it within the recommended timeframe (up to 2-3 months for best quality, though it remains safe longer).
Thawing and Reheating Frozen Soup:
- Overnight Thaw: The safest and gentlest way to thaw frozen soup is to transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight. This slow thaw helps maintain the soup’s creamy texture.
- Crockpot Warmer: For a hands-off reheating method, I sometimes use a Crockpot warmer. Place the frozen soup block (or thawed soup) into the slow cooker and heat on a low setting until warmed through. This prevents scorching and keeps the soup at an ideal serving temperature.
- Stovetop: You can also transfer frozen soup directly to a pot on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally as it thaws and warms up. Add a splash of broth or milk if needed to adjust consistency.
With these tips, you can enjoy the convenience of homemade **Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup** whenever the craving strikes, making healthy and delicious eating effortless.
More Inspiring Leftover Recipes
Embracing the art of cooking with leftovers is not only economical but also incredibly creative. If you love the idea of transforming holiday remains or everyday remnants into exciting new meals, you’ll appreciate these other fantastic recipes designed to give your leftovers a delicious second life.
- Leftover Turkey Nachos: A fun, easy, and crowd-pleasing way to use up cooked turkey. Layer with cheese, beans, salsa, and all your favorite nacho toppings for a quick meal or appetizer.
- Turkey Bone Broth: Don’t let that turkey carcass go to waste! Simmer it into a rich, nutrient-dense bone broth that can be used as a base for future soups, stews, or simply enjoyed on its own.
- Leftover Ham and Cheese Panini: Perfect for post-holiday ham, this panini is a simple yet satisfying sandwich that grills to golden perfection with gooey melted cheese.
- Leftover Turkey Chili: A hearty and flavorful chili is a wonderful way to repurpose cooked turkey. It’s robust, spicy, and incredibly comforting, perfect for a chilly evening.
- Turkey and Cheese Sliders: These miniature sandwiches are incredibly easy to make and are always a hit. Layer leftover turkey and cheese on Hawaiian rolls, brush with a savory butter mixture, and bake until golden and bubbly.
These recipes prove that leftovers can be just as exciting, if not more so, than the original meal, offering new flavors and culinary experiences while minimizing food waste.
More Delicious Turkey Dishes
Turkey is a remarkably versatile protein, extending far beyond holiday roasts. Its lean nature and ability to absorb a wide range of flavors make it a fantastic choice for a variety of meals, from quick weeknight dinners to impressive entertaining. If you’re a fan of turkey, here are more recipes to inspire your culinary adventures, showcasing different cuts and cooking methods.
- Smothered Turkey Wings: Tender, fall-off-the-bone turkey wings braised in a rich, savory gravy. A true comfort food classic.
- Baked Turkey Wings: A simpler approach to turkey wings, yielding crispy skin and juicy meat, perfect for a flavorful meal.
- Air Fryer Turkey Legs: Achieve incredibly crispy skin and succulent meat with minimal oil using the air fryer, a fun and delicious alternative to traditional methods.
- Air Fryer Turkey Wings: Similar to the legs, air frying turkey wings delivers a fantastic texture and makes for a quick and easy main course or appetizer.
- Air Fryer Turkey Breast: A reliable method for juicy, flavorful turkey breast that’s perfect for slicing for sandwiches or as a main dish.
- Cajun Spiced Roasted Turkey: Infuse your turkey with vibrant, spicy Cajun flavors for a festive and unforgettable roast.
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast: For ultra-moist and tender turkey breast cooked in a fraction of the time, the Instant Pot is your go-to kitchen tool.
- Stuffed Turkey Legs: An impressive dish that involves deboning and stuffing turkey legs with a savory mixture, offering a unique and flavorful experience.
- Slow Cooker Turkey Legs: Set it and forget it! Slow cooking results in incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth turkey legs with minimal effort.
- Traeger Smoked Turkey: For unparalleled smoky flavor and juicy meat, smoking a turkey on a Traeger grill is a fantastic way to prepare this poultry.
Whether you’re exploring new cooking techniques or seeking fresh flavor profiles, these turkey recipes provide a wealth of options to keep your meals exciting and delicious throughout the year.
More Comforting Soup Recipes
There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of soup to soothe the soul, especially on a chilly day. From hearty and robust to light and flavorful, soups offer endless possibilities for comfort and nourishment. If you’ve enjoyed the creamy goodness of this **Turkey Wild Rice Soup**, you’ll surely appreciate these other delightful soup creations that promise warmth and flavor in every spoonful.
- Chicken Lasagna Soup: All the beloved flavors of lasagna, but in a comforting, easy-to-eat soup form. Packed with chicken, pasta, and rich tomato broth.
- Sweet Potato Soup: A naturally sweet and creamy soup, often spiced with warming flavors like ginger and cinnamon, perfect for a cozy meal.
- Autumn Butternut Squash Soup: Celebrating the flavors of fall, this smooth and velvety soup is rich with roasted butternut squash and aromatic spices.
- Buffalo Chicken Soup: For those who love a bit of a kick, this soup captures all the zesty, spicy, and creamy flavors of buffalo chicken wings in a hearty bowl.
- Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup: A low-carb take on a classic favorite, this rich and cheesy soup is made effortlessly in the Instant Pot, proving healthy can still be delicious.
Each of these recipes offers a unique flavor journey, providing comforting options for every palate and occasion. Explore them to expand your soup-making repertoire and discover new family favorites.
Leftover Creamy Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Brandi Crawford
Pin Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Cast Iron Dutch Oven
- Freezer Soup Molds
- Soup Bowls
Ingredients
Instant Pot Wild Rice
- 2 cups wild rice
- 4 cups water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Turkey Soup
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup celery, diced
- ½ cup onion, diced
- ½ cup carrots, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3-4 cups cooked turkey I cut it into cubes. You can also shred.
- 4 cups broth I used chicken broth.
- 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Chicken Flavor Optional, adds immense flavor.
- 1 fresh lemon Zest and juice of the full lemon; use less if you don’t want lemon flavor.
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 cups fresh spinach or mixed greens
Make it Creamy
- 1 cup milk You can use any, including something like almond milk.
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 ounce cream cheese
Instructions
Instant Pot Wild Rice
- If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can cook the rice on the stove following the instructions on the package.
- Rinse the wild rice thoroughly. A fine mesh strainer works best for this.
- Add the rinsed rice, water, and salt to the Instant Pot. Cook for 30 Minutes on Manual/Pressure Cooking setting.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes before performing a manual release of any remaining steam.
Turkey Soup
- Place a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil, carrots, celery, and onions. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, or until the vegetables are translucent and fragrant.
- Add in the minced garlic and stir for 1-2 minutes until aromatic.
- Pour in the broth. Add the cooked wild rice, cooked turkey (cubed or shredded), dried thyme, dried oregano, milk, heavy cream, cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, Better Than Bouillon (if using), and fresh spinach or mixed greens. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Adjust the heat to medium-low, cover the pot with a lid, and simmer for 15-20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the soup to heat through completely, and for the greens to wilt.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before serving for the best flavor and enjoyment.
Notes
- You can substitute milk and heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk for a dairy-free version. Full-fat coconut milk works best for achieving a rich, creamy texture.
- If you choose to omit both the heavy cream and cream cheese and only use milk, the soup’s texture will be notably thinner and less creamy. The specified dairy ingredients are crucial for the intended creamy consistency of this soup.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.