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Recipes

Weekend Turkey Soup Stock

Make rich turkey stock by roasting carcasses and veggies, simmering low, then reducing. Freeze or use for soups. Weekend-friendly.

This recipe comes to us courtesy of the Spice of Life Cookbook by Treva Davis (no longer in print).

Submitted by: Treva Davis from Dousman, WI, USA
Yield: Approx. 5 and ½ Quarts

  • Roast turkey bones and vegetables first to deepen color and flavor, then deglaze the pans with wine to capture browned bits.
  • Simmer on the lowest heat for at least 8 hours, avoid boiling, then reduce the stock by about half to two thirds to concentrate flavor.
  • Chill and skim off fat or skim foam while reducing; store in fridge for days or freeze/can for long-term use.

Ingredients

Preparation Instructions:

<ol>
<li>Roast bones in two large roasting pans in the oven at 275 degrees for 2 hours, turning occasionally.</li>
<li>Add vegetables and roast another 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. The secret to the rich color and taste of this soup is roasting the bones and vegetables that will comprise the stock. Add the contents of the roasting pans to a large stock pot or canning kettle.</li>
<li>Place roasting pans on top of the stove, add the wine, heat and deglaze the pans by simmering the wine and stirring with a wooden spoon to loosen meat and vegetables that have stuck to the pan. Some of this stuck-on-stuff will contain fat. We will get rid of it later, but we want to capture these flavors.</li>
<li>Pour wine into the stock pot. Add bay leaves, peppercorns, onion powder, and garlic powder. Place rosemary, sage, thyme, and dried parsley in a tea ball or cheesecloth, tied with a string, and add to stock pot. Add defatted drippings and just enough water to cover the bones, about 10 quarts. Cover and simmer on the lowest heat for at least 8 hours. I let it cook overnight.</li>
<li>Turn off the heat and skim fat off the top. Strain stock into another stock pot and discard all bones, meat and vegetables. The meat and vegetables will have given their flavor to the stock so are not good in the final soup.</li>
<li>Boil stock to cook down, occasionally skimming the foam from the top. You will get rid of most of the fat as you skim away the foam. Alternately, you may chill the stock, lift off the fat, and then cook down the stock, If it's winter and you live in a cold climate, like I do, you can just put the stock pot outside to chill. I put a rock on the lid so no critters can have dinner on me.</li>
<li>Stock is cooked down sufficiently when it reaches your own desired flavor intensity. You will reduce the stock by about one half to two thirds. At this stage you may choose to freeze or can the stock for later use, or continue to make turkey soup.</li>
</ol>

More About This Recipe

Do not let the stock boil because calcium will leach out of the bones and cause your stock to turn white. It does not hurt the flavor, but looks odd. If this happens, do not be concerned that it is ruined. The flavor will be the same. If the color bothers you, make it a creamed soup and no one will ever know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this stock with just one turkey carcass or other poultry?

Yes. If you have one carcass or smaller poultry, reduce the water so bones are just covered and simmer until you get good flavor. Expect a milder stock and adjust simmer time or reduce more to concentrate it.

Why roast the bones and vegetables before simmering?

Roasting browns the bones and vegetables, which builds deeper color and richer flavor through caramelization and Maillard reactions. Deglazing the pans with wine captures those browned bits for extra taste.

How long should I simmer the stock and can it boil?

Simmer on the lowest heat for at least 8 hours and up to 12 or more for stronger flavor. Keep it at a bare simmer. Do not boil; boiling can cloud or lighten the color as minerals leach from the bones.

What is the best way to remove fat from the stock?

Chill the stock until the fat solidifies and lift it off, or skim fat and foam while the stock reduces. A fat separator works well, and reserved fat can be saved for cooking.

How much will the stock reduce, and how do I know when it is done?

Plan to reduce the stock by roughly half to two thirds depending on how concentrated you want it. Taste as it cooks down and stop when the flavor is as strong as you like.

Can I use a slow cooker or pressure cooker instead of a stovetop?

Yes. A slow cooker on low works well for 10 to 12 hours. A pressure cooker can make stock in 1.5 to 2 hours under high pressure with a natural release. Roasting first still gives the best color and depth.

How should I store the finished stock and how long does it last?

Refrigerate for 3 to 4 days, or freeze in portions for up to 6 months. You can also preserve by canning if you follow safe home-canning guidelines for broths and stocks.

Can I use the cooked meat and vegetables from the stock in my soup?

No. The meat and vegetables give up their flavor and texture during long cooking and become mushy and bland. If you want meat or vegetables in your soup, add fresh cooked pieces or reserve a little fresh turkey before making the stock.

Comments

Rating:
Based on 2 reviews

Customer Reviews

Raymond B

I’ll agree with the previous poster. Mine is just starting on the long simmer. Reason for posting now is that the idea of roasting the bones and vegetables is a great one. My wife was a little disappointed in that she was hoping to have soup the same day. So hopefully this will be worth the wait. Just wanted to add that I too had to jack up temps after the first two and a half hours to get the veggies to carmelize and add to the bottom of the pan. I ended up at 375 during the last half hour. I ended up adding about an hour to the vegetable cook part of the process. Probably could keep the prep time the same if you simply jack the temps up to 325 to 350 for the second have of the cook. Or simply “adjust temps to get the veggies to carmelize and start to stick to the bottom of the pan”, etc.

Thanks for the recipe. I’ll post tomorrow after the stock is done.

Jack H

I have often heard of baking the bones to make the soup, but never had a recipe before. I have made this one using chickens vs turkeys, adjusted the spices down by half because I’m making 6qts vs 10.

Baking the bones for about 4hrs at 275, then slow simmering (champagne bubbles, one at a time), for 12hrs or more has produced rich brown stock! The spice combinations have converted me, I will never buy canned stock again (never say never?), or at least not if I have the time to do this.

Chances are I will never toss those bones out again, either.

I baked the bones and veggies as per, but the veggies did not carmelize. I think next time I will remove the bones after they are done, but turn the heat up to 325 for another 1/2 hour or however long it takes to carmelize the onions and carrots. I have found that this produces an altogether different flavor that I like.

It’s still cooking as I type. I will probably also add some salt right at the end.

If anyone has any other suggestions, I am all ears.

Jack

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