Recipes for Turkey Leftovers:
The big question after turkey day is what am I going to do with all of these “turkey leftovers?” While there are many recipes for turkey leftovers on the web, you’ll want to save this one because it is good year round, not just for repurposing leftovers.
In fact, if you tried my Smoked Turkey Breast with White Alabama Sauce, you will not need convincing that making smoked turkey breast is at minimum a monthly occurrence because it is so darn good. It’s also so good for keeping on hand for making sandwiches versus buying store bought smoked turkey in the deli which will most likely have added chemicals and preservatives. Check out my Turkey Chaffle Sandwich recipe here for another great recipe for turkey leftovers.
The best part of this soup made with turkey leftovers is that it is made with stock made from the turkey bones, giving you all the good stuff you get from a homemade bone broth. That’s why I think it’s important to buy an organic turkey because you are going to be using this turkey for multiple dishes!
Growing up, my Grandma, who was really amazing at stretching a dollar, used to always have a pot of Turkey and rice soup on the stove. It was always a comforting dish to have for lunch or dinner and kept everyone well fed and happy.
This is my modern take on my Grandma’s Turkey and rice soup as I’ve swapped the rice with organic quinoa, and added in kale as an addition. Plus, the fact that this smoked turkey has so much smoked turkey flavor really makes this a fantastic soup that doesn’t need extra seasoning because the smoked turkey gives this soup tons of flavor.
What I really love about this recipe is that you can easily freeze these turkey leftovers for one of those days you don’t have much planned. Pair this with a grilled cheese (or nothing at all, it is actually pretty filling!) and you have an easy weeknight lunch or dinner.
If you make this Smoked Turkey Quinoa and Kale Soup, don’t forget to give me a follow on my social channels on instagram and facebook and tag me so I can share your creations!
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Turkey Leftovers: Smoked Turkey, Quinoa and Kale Soup
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Description
This Smoked Turkey, Kale and Quinoa Soup made with turkey leftovers will be a year round staple in your household as it's a healthy, flavorful, economical and easy to make.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 turkey carcass/bones for making broth
- 1 ½ cups turkey broth
- 1 cups quinoa
- 2 cups smoked (leftover) turkey
- One large bunch kale, chopped with stems removed
Instructions
Add turkey carcass to a large pot and Fill with water to cover the bones. Bring to boil and let the broth reduce.
Next, toss out the bones and keep the remaining broth.
Next, cook 1 cups of quinoa according to directions with turkey broth instead of water- the ratio is one cup of quinoa to 1 and a half cups broth.
Cook quinoa according to directions letting it boil and then simmer for 12 minutes. Add the cooked Quinoa back to the stock remaining stock. Next, add leftover turkey and kale and bring to a boil, just until kale is wilted.
Season with salt and pepper.
Prepare to be amazed at how flavorful this soup is with barely any added ingredients!
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup, Stew
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: American
