Can You Make Turkey Soup With Raw Turkey? The Surprising Answer

Turkey soup is a beloved, comforting dish, perfect for using up leftovers after a big holiday meal. But what if you find yourself with some raw turkey on hand – can you skip roasting it and go straight to making soup? The short answer is yes, you absolutely can make tasty turkey soup with raw turkey. However, there are some important things to keep in mind.

Why Make Soup With Raw Turkey?

There are a few scenarios where you might want to make turkey soup directly from raw turkey:

• You bought a whole raw turkey or turkey pieces but changed your mind about roasting it. Making soup is a great way to still use it up

• You want turkey soup but don’t want to wait for a turkey to roast. Cooking raw turkey in the soup cuts out this time-consuming step.

• You only need a small amount of turkey meat for your soup. It can be wasteful to roast a whole bird for just a few cups of meat.

So if you find yourself in one of these situations, soup is a perfect solution for raw turkey The cooking process tenderizes the meat for a flavorful broth and soup

Choosing the Right Cut of Turkey

The most important factor in making turkey soup with raw turkey is choosing the right cut. The best options are:

• Turkey wings or drumsticks – These dark meat cuts are full of collagen that breaks down into gelatin, giving your broth extra body. The skin also lends lots of flavor.

• Bone-in turkey thighs – Thigh meat has more fat and flavor than breast meat. The bones again add body to the broth.

• Bone-in turkey breast – Works in a pinch but won’t have as much flavor. Opt for skin-on for added richness.

Boneless, skinless turkey breast is too lean and will result in a very bland soup. Avoid ground or chopped turkey as well, as the texture won’t hold up. Stick with sizable bone-in cuts for the best flavor and texture.

Adapting Your Recipe

Many turkey soup recipes are intended for leftover roasted turkey, so you’ll need to tweak things to accommodate raw turkey. Here are some tips:

• Cook times will be longer. Plan on simmering bone-in raw turkey for at least 1-2 hours until completely tender before removing the meat.

• Use a full boil initially. Bring the soup to a rapid boil for the first 20-30 minutes of cooking. This helps render fat and begin breaking down connective tissue.

• Skim diligently. A boiled raw turkey will release lots of scum and foam. Skim this off the top frequently for a cleaner, clearer broth.

• Add some aromatics. Browning the raw turkey first isn’t necessary, but add some aromatics like onion, carrots, and celery early on to lend flavor.

• Use thighs or wings. Again, for the best flavor and texture, opt for turkey thighs or wings over breast meat.

Follow those tips, and your from-scratch turkey soup will rival one made from a roasted bird.

Step-By-Step Guide

Here is a simple walkthrough for making turkey soup with raw turkey:

Ingredients:

• 1-2 lbs turkey thighs, drumsticks, or wings
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 6 cups water or chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Egg noodles, cooked (optional)

Instructions:

1. If using skin-on turkey, pat dry and season all over with salt and pepper. This helps season the broth.

2. Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the turkey pieces and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes total.

3. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the water or broth, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil.

5. Once boiling, reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Skim any foam or scum that rises to the top.

6. Simmer uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the turkey is very tender and falling off the bone.

7. Transfer the turkey pieces to a plate. Once cool enough to handle, shred or chop the meat, discarding skin and bones.

8. Return the turkey meat to the soup pot and continue simmering for 15-20 more minutes.

9. Taste the soup and season to your liking with salt and pepper.

10. To serve, add cooked noodles to each bowl if desired, then ladle in the soup. Garnish with parsley if you like.

And that’s it – you’ve turned raw turkey into a pot of hearty, comforting soup. The key is starting with the right cuts and giving it plenty of time to simmer until tender.

Tips for the Best Flavor

To maximize flavor in your from-scratch turkey soup, keep these tips in mind:

• Brown any skin-on pieces first for crispy, flavorful skin that will impart richness to the broth.

• Roast the bones and neck after removing all meat. This adds incredible roasted flavor to the broth.

• Sautée the aromatics like onion, celery, carrot, and garlic before adding to the pot.

• Simmer the broth uncovered to allow concentration of flavors.

• Let cool and refrigerate overnight – fat will solidify on top and can be removed for a clearer broth.

• Use a mix of cuts like wings, thighs, and breast meat for a deeper, more complex flavor.

FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making turkey soup with raw turkey:

Can I use a whole raw turkey for soup?

Yes, you can cut up a whole raw turkey to make soup. Remove the breast meat to dice and add later, then simmer the legs, wings, thighs, neck, and carcass to make the broth.

Is raw or cooked turkey better for soup?

Raw turkey requires more hands-on cooking time but allows you to build flavor from scratch. Leftover cooked turkey can be quicker and provides roasted flavors. Both work well!

Does raw turkey soup need to boil?

Bringing the soup to a rapid boil helps render fat and extract flavors and gelatin from raw turkey. After the initial boil, reduce to a simmer.

How long does raw turkey take to cook for soup?

Allow 1 1/2 – 2 hours for bone-in raw turkey to become fork-tender. Turkey breast cooks more quickly, in 45-60 minutes.

Can raw turkey make you sick in soup?

Properly cooking raw turkey to an internal temperature of 165°F kills any potential bacteria, making it safe to eat.

Satisfying and Simple

During fall and winter, turkey soup is a warming, hearty meal that feels like a big hug in a bowl. By starting with raw turkey, you can whip up a pot anytime a craving strikes without waiting for leftovers. Just be sure to choose bone-in cuts and allow plenty of gentle simmering time. Patience and a few simple techniques will reward you with rich, homemade flavor.