This Thai turkey soup recipe is irresistibly flavorful with a creamy coconut curry broth. It’s really easy to make and the tastiest way to use up leftover turkey!
If you like Thai-inspired recipes, try my Easy Thai Shrimp Curry or this Thai Green Curry Soup next.
Turkey curry soup is the perfect way to use up leftover turkey after the holidays This hearty, flavorful soup comes together easily with simple ingredients like onions, carrots, celery, and curry powder As someone who loves cooking easy, delicious meals for my family, turkey curry soup has become one of my favorite recipes for leftover turkey.
In this article, I’ll share my favorite turkey curry soup recipe, as well as tips for making it and customizing it to your taste. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or new to the kitchen, you’ll learn how simple it is to whip up a pot of this comforting soup. Let’s get started!
An Overview of Turkey Curry Soup
Turkey curry soup is a type of curried soup made using leftover roasted turkey It combines turkey with classic curry soup ingredients like onions, carrots, celery, and curry powder. The soup is simmered until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have melded Finally, cooked rice and apples are stirred in for texture and sweetness.
This soup is inspired by an Anglo-Indian dish called mulligatawny. But it’s an Americanized version that’s easy to throw together after Thanksgiving or Christmas. The curry powder and apples give it signature flavor. Since it uses up turkey leftovers, it’s also practical.
Turkey curry soup strikes the perfect balance between creamy and brothy. Many recipes use a touch of cream or coconut milk to add richness without making it heavy. The rice soaks up the delicious curry broth, while chunks of turkey and diced apples provide substance.
Overall, this soup has become popular because it’s:
- Comforting and creamy
- Full of flavor from the curry powder
- Simple to make with pantry staples
- A tasty way to use leftover turkey
Now let’s look at how to make turkey curry soup at home.
How to Make Turkey Curry Soup
While recipes can vary slightly, turkey curry soup comes together quickly by simmering aromatics, curry powder, stock, turkey, and apples. Here is an overview of the basic steps:
Cook the aromatics: Start by sautéing the curry soup base of onion, celery, and carrots in butter or oil. Cook until the vegetables soften.
Bloom the spices: Next, stir in curry powder and optional spices like garlic, ginger or allspice. Cook briefly to release the flavors.
Simmer the broth: Add chicken or turkey stock and simmer. Then stir in the uncooked rice, apples, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
Add the turkey: Once the rice is partially cooked and vegetables are tender, mix in the chopped cooked turkey.
Finish with cream: Finally, stir in a bit of cream, coconut milk, or yogurt to finish it off.
That’s really all there is to it! The beauty of this soup is that it comes together by basically dumping ingredients into a pot. Before serving, garnish with fresh herbs and swirl in a dollop of yogurt.
Tips for Customizing Your Turkey Curry Soup
One of the great things about turkey curry soup is how customizable it is. Here are some ideas for putting your own spin on this classic:
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Switch up the spices: Try different curry powder blends, or add spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, or cayenne pepper.
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Use different creamy dairy: Swap the cream for coconut milk, heavy cream, half and half, or plain yogurt.
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Replace the apples: Sub in different fruits like pineapple, mango, or raisins instead.
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Play with the starch: Use rice, small pasta, orzo, barley, or noodles instead.
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Bulk it up: Add veggies like sweet potatoes, zucchini, spinach, or chickpeas.
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Top it off: Garnish with toasted nuts or seeds, crispy bacon, cheese, or fresh herbs.
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Adjust the richness: For a lower calorie soup, use reduced fat dairy and limit oil when cooking.
The possibilities are endless! Tweak the recipe to suit your tastes or what you have on hand.
Tips for Making the Best Turkey Curry Soup
Follow these tips for maximizing flavor and getting the perfect texture when making turkey curry soup:
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Use a flavorful turkey stock: Opt for homemade stock or turkey gravy for the most flavor. Good broth is key!
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Cook veggies just until tender: Be careful not to overcook the carrots, onion, and celery or they’ll get mushy.
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Simmer, don’t boil: Once broth is added, simmer gently to infuse flavors. Boiling can make the rice gummy.
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Stir in cream at the end: Add dairy at the very end, just long enough to heat through and thicken slightly.
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Season well: Add salt, pepper, and extra spices to heighten the flavors. The curry powder alone may not be enough.
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Give it good resting time: Before serving, let it sit for 5-10 minutes for flavors to develop fully.
Follow these tips and your turkey curry soup is sure to impress! It will be rich, fragrant, and comforting.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re new to making turkey curry soup, you probably have some questions. Here are answers to some common FAQs:
What kind of curry powder should I use? A good mild or medium yellow curry powder works well. Test different blends to find your favorite.
Can I use chicken instead of turkey? Absolutely! Just replace the turkey with chopped cooked chicken.
What if I don’t have leftovers? You can roast a turkey breast or use rotisserie chicken.
How long does it last? It will keep in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for 3-6 months.
Can I prep the recipe in advance? Yes! Cook the soup then cool and refrigerate. Reheat to serve.
What can I serve with it? It’s delicious with rice, naan bread, poppadoms, or pappadams. A side salad balances the richness.
What should I do with extra? Freeze individual portions to reheat later for an easy lunch or dinner.
Putting Leftover Turkey to Work
Part of what makes turkey curry soup so satisfying is that it creatively transforms leftover turkey into something new. No more boring old sandwiches with mystery-meat turkey!
With this easy soup recipe, you can stretch your Thanksgiving or Christmas bird into quick, flavor-packed meals throughout the holidays and beyond. It feels indulgent but is budget-friendly.
Roast an extra turkey breast specifically to use in meals like this. Or double the recipe and freeze batches for later. You can even swap in rotisserie or grilled chicken.
Your family will love turkey curry soup for its comforting creamy broth, tender rice, savory turkey chunks, bright pops of apple, and warming curry spices. It’s simple fare with gourmet flair.
Ready, Set, Simmer!
Now you’re ready to simmer up a pot of flavorful turkey curry soup right in your own kitchen. From using up leftovers to customizing spices and mix-ins, you have all the tips and info you need.
Frequency of Entities:
Onion: 10
Carrot: 7
Celery: 6
Curry powder: 16
Turkey: 28
Chicken: 5
Stock: 7
Rice: 7
Apple: 5
Cream: 5
Coconut milk: 2
Yogurt: 3
Ginger: 1
Garlic: 1
Allspice: 1
Cayenne pepper: 1
Leftover turkey: 12
How to make Thai turkey soup
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
In a soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion in the oil until softened. Stir in the garlic and curry paste, and cook for about 30 seconds. Add in the broth, water, lime juice, turkey, noodles, and red bell pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Stir in the coconut milk. Simmer until the noodles are cooked through. Add in the fresh herbs and scallions. Taste, and season with salt & pepper as needed.
- This turkey curry soup is flavorful but not what I’d call spicy. If you do want to make it spicier, add some grated ginger, sriracha, and/or chili paste. Play with the flavor, and taste and adjust until you think it tastes perfect!
- Are you a salt fiend like me? Add in a splash of soy sauce.
- If you’re not feeling some of the fresh herbs, simply don’t include them all.
Why you’ll love it
I hope those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving had a good one! If you made a Roast Turkey, chances are you have some leftovers. This Thai turkey curry soup is the perfect thing to ease you out of your turkey coma. It’s also a super low effort alternative to sandwiches.
This turkey soup recipe is warm and cozy but also fresh and fairly light! That’s what I love about making Thai-style food. We’ve got creamy coconut milk, fresh herbs, and vibrant flavors. Such a good combo, and you’ll having a piping hot bowl ready in just 30 minutes.
- Olive oil – for sautéing
- Onion and garlic – tasty aromatics. I like using sweet (Vidalia) onions.
- Thai red curry paste – it’s a ready-made paste that has fragrant spices and lemongrass. I recommend Thai Kitchen brand, which is not what I’d consider spicy (some brands are).
- Chicken broth – for more savory flavor
- Lime juice & wedges – for a pop of acidity and brightness
- Turkey – we’re using cooked leftover turkey
- Rice noodles – they’re those translucent ones that come in different sizes; I prefer thicker noodles here to vermicelli
- Red bell pepper – it adds some veggie goodness
- Coconut milk – definitely use full fat for the most flavor and best texture
- Basil, cilantro, scallions – classic fresh ingredients in Thai-style recipes
Naturally, this soup works well for Thanksgiving leftovers, but it could also be made on another occasion where you have leftover Roast Chicken or rotisserie chicken. Or just cook a turkey breast if you want something a little different. I’ve done that before.
