Hearty Turkey Wild Rice Soup: The Ultimate Comfort Meal
This Turkey Wild Rice Soup isn’t just a dish; it’s a complete meal in a bowl, designed to warm you from the inside out. Brimming with tender turkey, an abundance of healthy vegetables, and the distinct, nutty flavor of wild rice, it’s the perfect solution for utilizing that extra turkey, especially around the holidays. Get ready for a remarkably creamy, satisfying, and wholesome experience!
This recipe is proudly brought to you in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill. As always, all culinary insights and opinions are 100% my own. Your support for the brands that help make The Beach House Kitchen possible is deeply appreciated.
Embrace the Comfort: A Story of Unexpected Adventures and Cozy Cravings
Hello, wonderful friends, and Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed a splendid weekend. Mine, I must admit, was rather eventful. My husband, Tom, and I hosted some dear friends for dinner on Saturday night. The beach air was crisp and chilly, signaling the perfect occasion for a comforting meal. I decided on a beloved classic: my chicken pot pie, but with a fun twist – instead of puff pastry, I topped it with crispy tater tots! It was an absolute delight. To complete our feast, I also prepared my fall favorite pumpkin cake, another crowd-pleaser, and a batch of my indulgent pumpkin spice pecan brittle, because, let’s be honest, you can never have too many desserts, right? The dinner party was a resounding success – filled with laughter, good company, and delicious food. That is, until our first guest departed…
As Tom walked our next-door neighbor, David, out to his car, with our loyal dog, Tucker, enthusiastically following close behind, an unexpected encounter unfolded. Just as they rounded the front corner of the house… SKUNK! Tucker, having never before encountered such a creature, likely mistook it for a cat in the darkness – and Tucker has a well-known aversion to cats. Well, let’s just say, Tucker’s newfound aversion to skunks now thoroughly eclipses his dislike for felines! My poor buddy was directly sprayed in the eye and mouth by that cunning skunk. Not exactly the grand finale we had envisioned for a wonderful evening!
Undoubtedly, Sunday arrived as a much-welcomed, more tranquil day. Tucker spent the better part of it recuperating from the aromatic fiasco of the previous night. The weather was perfectly crisp and chilly, creating an ideal setting for a steaming bowl of hot soup. So, I reached for my largest pot and began preparing one of my absolute favorite soups for this time of year: Turkey Wild Rice Soup. With the holidays fast approaching, turkey will soon be everywhere! You’ll inevitably find yourself with an abundance of leftover turkey, seeking creative and delicious ways to enjoy it. If you’re searching for a dish that’s both deliciously creamy and profoundly comforting, this Turkey Wild Rice Soup is precisely what you need.
Why This Turkey Wild Rice Soup Will Become Your New Favorite
Our Turkey Wild Rice Soup is an incredibly hearty dish that expertly combines three major food groups into one satisfying bowl. It’s not just a recipe; it’s a culinary experience designed to bring warmth and nourishment to your table. Imagine succulent turkey, abundant healthy vegetables like vibrant carrots, crisp celery, aromatic onions, and earthy mushrooms, all harmonized with the mild, unique flavor of wild rice. To achieve its signature rich and smooth texture, I finish the soup with a cup of evaporated milk, lending a subtle sweetness and luxurious creaminess without overwhelming the other flavors.
The Star Ingredient: Bob’s Red Mill Wild Rice
I am absolutely thrilled to share that I’ve partnered with Bob’s Red Mill to bring you this fantastic Turkey Wild Rice Soup. The delightful, nutty flavor of their wild rice truly elevates this soup, transforming it from ordinary to extraordinary! Bob’s Red Mill is renowned for its commitment to quality, carefully selecting its wild rice from the highest quality, finest varieties cultivated in California. Beyond its exquisite taste and texture, wild rice is a nutritional powerhouse. It’s an excellent source of fiber and protein, along with essential minerals like iron and calcium, which are crucial for promoting healthy bones and overall well-being. It’s one of my go-to ingredients, perfect for adding depth and substance to not only soups but also hearty stews and vibrant salads.
A Deep Dive into Flavorful Components
- Tender Turkey: Whether you’re using holiday leftovers or cooking fresh for this recipe, shredded turkey provides a lean protein foundation that makes this soup incredibly filling. It soaks up all the rich broth, becoming wonderfully tender and flavorful.
- Aromatic Vegetables: The classic trio of yellow onion, carrots, and celery forms the aromatic base, often referred to as mirepoix, which infuses the soup with foundational savory notes. Sliced mushrooms add an earthy, umami depth that complements the turkey beautifully.
- Crispy Pancetta: Diced pancetta, rendered until crispy, offers a fantastic savory fat base. It’s the secret ingredient that adds incredible depth of flavor to the entire soup, creating a rich foundation before any other ingredients are added.
- The Rich Broth: High-quality chicken broth is essential for a flavorful soup. It marries all the ingredients together, creating a comforting liquid that is both savory and wholesome.
- Marsala Wine: A splash of Marsala wine for deglazing not only helps to scrape up all those delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pot (which are packed with flavor!) but also adds a nuanced, slightly sweet, and nutty complexity to the broth.
- Fresh Thyme: The fragrant, slightly peppery notes of fresh thyme are a perfect pairing for poultry and comfort foods, adding an aromatic lift to the rich flavors of the soup.
- Creaminess with Evaporated Milk: Unlike heavy cream, evaporated milk offers a wonderful richness and smooth texture without being overly heavy. It thickens the soup slightly and contributes a lovely creaminess that balances the savory elements.
Tips for Making the Best Turkey Wild Rice Soup
- Pre-soak Wild Rice (Optional): While not strictly necessary for Bob’s Red Mill quick-cooking wild rice, some prefer to pre-soak wild rice for a few hours or overnight to reduce cooking time and ensure even tenderness.
- Don’t Overcook the Rice: Keep an eye on the wild rice as it cooks. It should be tender but still have a slight chew. Overcooked wild rice can become mushy.
- Flavor Building: Don’t rush the sautéing of the pancetta and vegetables. Allowing them to properly caramelize and soften builds the foundation of flavor for the entire soup.
- Deglazing is Key: The Marsala wine step is important! Scraping up the “fond” (browned bits) from the bottom of the pot adds immense depth of flavor to your broth.
- Seasoning as You Go: Taste the soup at various stages and adjust salt and pepper. Remember that ingredients like broth and pancetta already contribute saltiness.
- Shredding Turkey: For the best texture, use two forks to shred your cooked turkey. You want bite-sized pieces that integrate well into the soup.
- Make Ahead & Storage: This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It also freezes well for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth or milk if needed.
Variations to Customize Your Soup
- Add More Veggies: Feel free to incorporate other vegetables like frozen peas, corn, diced bell peppers, or even a handful of fresh spinach at the very end of cooking.
- Herb Alternatives: If you don’t have fresh thyme, dried thyme can be used (use about 1 tsp). Rosemary or sage would also complement the turkey and wild rice beautifully.
- Make it Gluten-Free: Ensure your chicken broth is gluten-free and use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the roux.
- Lighter Option: If you prefer a lighter broth, you can reduce the amount of pancetta or omit it entirely and start with a tablespoon of olive oil.
- Spice it Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce can add a subtle kick if you enjoy a little heat.
- Different Proteins: Cooked chicken (especially rotisserie chicken) can easily be substituted for turkey. Ground turkey or chicken, browned with the pancetta, could also work for a different texture.
It was a genuine pleasure working with Bob’s Red Mill in 2016, bringing you an array of delicious recipes featuring their top-notch products. They truly set the standard for whole grain foods. I encourage you to explore their website to discover the full range of high-quality ingredients they have to offer.
Before I sign off, I hope you’ll have a chance to stop back on Thursday to join me in a toast to the two-year anniversary of The Beach House Kitchen! Wishing you all a truly wonderful week!
Turkey Wild Rice Soup
MaryAnn Dwyer
9
cups
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15 minutes
30 minutes
45 minutes
Ingredients
-
3/4
cup
dry wild rice -
1/2
tsp.
kosher salt -
2 1/2
cups
water -
4
oz.
pancetta
diced -
8
oz.
mushrooms
sliced -
1/2
cup
yellow onion
chopped -
1/2
cup
carrots
chopped -
1/2
cup
celery
chopped -
3
Tbsp.
all-purpose flour -
1/4
cup
marsala wine -
4
cups
chicken broth -
2 1/2
cups
cooked turkey
shredded -
3
tsp.
fresh thyme leaves -
1
cup
evaporated milk - kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- slivered almonds for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Add rice and salt to boiling water. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer for 35-40 minutes until rice is tender. Drain rice after cooking. Set aside.
- Sauté pancetta in large pot over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add onion, carrots, and celery. Cover and continue to cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium and stir in flour. Cook for one minute.
- Deglaze pot with Marsala, scraping brown bits from bottom of pot. Stir in broth, turkey, thyme, and rice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add evaporated milk and salt and pepper to taste and continue to simmer until heated through.
- Garnish with slivered almonds if desired.
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