Light Turkey Soup
A light, flavorful turkey soup made from roasted carcass, vegetables, and shredded cabbage, perfect for a comforting yet health-conscious meal suited for all seasons.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Strip carcass of any large pieces of meat and dice enough meat to make 2 cups. Set aside.
- In a large pot, combine water, salt, and pepper, and bring to a boil.
- Add the sliced onion and carrot to the boiling water.
- Reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour to extract flavors.
- Add the roasted turkey carcass and meat to the broth, continuing to simmer for another 30 minutes.
- Remove carcass and discard.
- Stir in the shredded cabbage and cook for an additional 5 minutes until tender.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, then sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For added depth, consider roasting the turkey carcass in the oven before using it for broth. If you don’t have Napa cabbage, you can substitute with regular green cabbage or even spinach for a different texture. Adding herbs like thyme or bay leaves can enhance the flavor, but remember to remove them before serving. This soup can also be made with leftover chicken carcass.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the soup hot, garnished with freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color. It pairs beautifully with crusty bread or a side of Shirley'S Raw Salad for a light meal. Consider offering a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on top for added flavor, or serve it alongside a Jello Mold - Cranberry Salad for a festive touch.
Storage & Reheating
Allow the soup to cool completely before transferring it to airtight containers. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. When reheating, do so gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a bit of water if it thickens too much.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Light Turkey Soup contains roughly 816 calories, with 30g protein, 172g carbohydrates, and 8g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin A (333% of the Daily Value), dietary fiber (200% of the Daily Value), and vitamin C (157% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1849mg per serving (80% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to make this soup vegan?
Absolutely! You can create a delicious vegan version by using a vegetable broth instead of turkey broth and omitting the turkey carcass and meat. Add more vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, or even tofu for protein and texture, making it a satisfying meal.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).