Turn your Thanksgiving turkey carcass into killer soup overnight

Transforming the Thanksgiving Turkey Carcass into a Delightful Overnight Soup

The chaos of Thanksgiving dinner leaves behind a pile of dishes and the leftover turkey carcass. At this point, you'd rather throw the whole kit and caboodle against the wall. But fear not, for this write-up offers a simple solution: We're cooking up a delectable turkey noodle soup that'll be a must-have at your table next month. Put your anger aside and trust us on this one, as you'll be thanking us come cocktail hour.

The Great Turkey Soup Challenge

Once the festivities have concluded, assign someone the task of extracting the remaining turkey from the carcass. The objective here isn't precision; simply remove as many pieces as possible (bigger cuts are better) and stash them in a resealable plastic bag. Jumble a large, empty stockpot over the stove and drop in the carcass and the scavenged bones. You can throw in any vegetable remnants from the starter or main course (like raw or cooked carrots, onions, garlic, celery, fennel, or mushrooms) as well. Why not toss in the carrot and garlic peels, leftover onions, and other veggie scraps that you'd usually bin at the end of the night?

Now, pour cold water into the pot until the carcass is submerged. Place it in the oven on its lowest temperature, usually 180-200°F, and allow it to simmer throughout the night.

Breakfast with a Bang - Overnight Turkey Soup

Pull the pot from the oven in the morning and let it cool enough to strain without scalding yourself. Pour the contents through a sieve into a smaller pot, discarding the carcass and bones that remain. You should be left with a beautifully clear, golden broth. Forklift the celery, carrots, and mushrooms back into the pot, and heat until boiling again. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, let the egg noodles cook until tender, and toss in some chopped parsley if you fancy. If there's any remnant turkey lingering, add it about a minute before serving to achieve perfectly warmed meat.

And that's a wrap – this soup not only works wonders with a mediocre bird but effectively transforms turkey soup into a far tastier endeavor than the bird itself. More often than not, you'll manage to put off processing the carcass until the next day, resulting in a self-contained meal that's surprisingly easy to reheat.

Turkey Noodle Soup for the Holidays

Ingredients:

| - | | --- | | 1 turkey carcass | | Cold water to cover | | 16 ounces chopped carrots | | 1 full carrot's worth of chopped celery | | 8 ounces chopped mushrooms | | 12 ounces egg noodles | | 2-3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (optional) | | Leftover shredded turkey (optional) |

Directions:

Place the carcass, any leftover veggies, and cold water in the stockpot. Place the pot in the oven, setting the temperature to the lowest setting, and let it simmer overnight.
Remove the pot in the morning, let it cool, and then strain the contents through a sieve into a smaller pot. After discarding the solids, bring the mixture to a boil, taste and season, add egg noodles, and cook until the pasta is tender. If desired, add some chopped turkey a minute before serving. Garnish with parsley for added flavor.

Embrace the ease of this turkey soup recipe in your yearly Thanksgiving festivities, ensuring you make no waste of any part of your turkey.

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Enrichment Data:

To create a flavorful and nutritious turkey noodle soup using leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass and vegetables, you can follow these simple steps:

Ingredients:

Turkey Carcass: Remove the remaining meat from your leftover Thanksgiving turkey bones.
Vegetables: Incorporate your favorite seasonal vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms.
Broth: You have the option of using homemade turkey broth (recipe below) or store-bought chicken broth.
Noodles: You can choose from egg noodles or any type of noodle you prefer.
Spices: Don't forget to add salt, black pepper, and any other herbs or spices you enjoy (e.g., thyme, rosemary).

Instructions:

Make Homemade Turkey Broth:
Ingredients:
- 1 cooked turkey carcass (bones broken into chunks)
- 2 large onions (quartered)
- 3 stalks celery (chopped)
- 4 large carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- 2 sprigs fresh parsley, rosemary, and thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon chicken paste or 3 chicken bouillon cubes
Instructions:
1. Add Ingredients to Pot:
  - In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, place the turkey carcass pieces, quartered onions, chopped celery, and peeled carrots.
  - Sprinkle black peppercorns, fresh herbs, and bay leaves fulsomely.
  - Add chicken bouillon (paste or cubes) to provide further depth to the broth.
  - Pour enough cold water to cover the ingredients completely (around 12-16 cups).
2. Boil and Simmer:
  - Place the pot on the stovetop over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil.
  - Once the water reaches a boil, lower the heat and cover the pot.
  - Gently simmer for 2-3 hours, allowing flavors to blend. Skim the foam off the surface with a spoon as necessary.
3. Strain Stock:
  - Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool down slightly.
  - Position a fine-mesh strainer, or cheesecloth, over a large bowl or another pot.
  - Pour the broth through the strainer and discard the solids.
4. Chill and Remove Fat:
  - Chill the turkey broth in the refrigerator until it's completely solidified.
  - Skim off any fat that has formed atop the broth.
Prepare the Soup:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of homemade turkey broth (or store-bought chicken broth)
- 1 cup diced vegetables (onions, carrots, celery)
- 1 cup shredded or diced leftover turkey meat
- 1 cup egg noodles
- Salt, black pepper to taste, and optional additional herbs or spices
Instructions:
1. Sauté Aromatics:
  - In a large soup pot, sauté the diced onions, carrots, and celery in a bit of oil until they soften and turn golden.
2. Add Broth and Turkey:
  - Add the homemade turkey broth (or store-bought chicken broth) to the pot.
  - Stir in the shredded or diced leftover turkey meat.
3. Simmer the Soup:
  - Raise the heat and let the mixture come to a gentle boil.
  - Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10-15 minutes.
4. Add Noodles:
  - Add the egg noodles to the pot and cook until tender.
5. Season and Serve:
  - Stir in salt, black pepper, and any additional herbs or spices you enjoy.
  - Serve hot with a dash of parsley for added flair.

Overnight Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare Broth:
Prepare the homemade turkey broth as described above and let it cool.
Step 2: Prepare Soup Base:
Sauté the aromatics (onions, carrots, celery) in a bit of oil until softened.
Step 3: Simmer Soup Base Overnight:
Add the cooled turkey broth along with the cooled sautéed aromatics to the stockpot, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer overnight on low heat.
Step 4: Add Noodles and Turkey:
In the morning, add the shredded or diced leftover turkey meat and egg noodles to the pot.
Cook for an additional 8-12 minutes until the noodles are tender.
Step 5: Season and Serve:
Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, black pepper, and any additional herbs or spices you prefer.
Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

This approach ensures an exceptionally rich and flavorful overnight turkey noodle soup using your leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass and an assortment of seasonal vegetables. It's an ideal way to make creative use of your leftovers, perfect for cold winter nights.