{"id":17256,"date":"2019-11-27T07:05:40","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T12:05:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bowlofdelicious.com\/?p=17256"},"modified":"2021-10-26T09:29:57","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T13:29:57","slug":"leftover-turkey-soup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bowlofdelicious.com\/leftover-turkey-soup\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Leftover Turkey Soup with Black Beans and Corn"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you need a recipe for your leftover Thanksgiving turkey, you have to try this healthy <\/strong>Southwestern<\/strong> leftover turkey soup<\/strong> with black beans and corn! This recipe is packed with fresh flavor<\/strong> from lime juice and cilantro, with smoked paprika, cumin, peppers, and onions. You can make it year-round with rotisserie chicken, and it’s freezable.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

I really hope you made enough turkey to have leftovers, whether you cooked an entire roast turkey<\/a>, a boneless breast of turkey in your slow cooker<\/a>, or a whole turkey breast in your instant pot<\/a>. This leftover turkey soup is such a great way to put that leftover meat to good use!<\/p>\n

After Thanksgiving, I’m always left craving something different in flavor from the comforting foods surrounding the holiday. The flavors in this southwestern turkey soup are the perfect respite from the gravy-laden fare of Thanksgiving, and it’s a healthy way to enjoy leftover turkey!<\/p>\n

Packed with smoky flavor from smoked paprika, sweetness from the corn, and bright, fresh flavor from fresh lime juice and plenty of cilantro, I love this light-tasting soup to help detox from gorging over the holidays.<\/p>\n

This soup is so simple and easy to make, PLUS you can stick it in your freezer to enjoy later.<\/p>\n

\"Horizontal<\/p>\n

Tips and tricks for the best flavor<\/h2>\n

To make this leftover turkey soup, just sauté some peppers and onions, add some spices, chicken stock, turkey, beans, and corn! It’s so fast and easy since most of the ingredients are already cooked when you add them. Here are some tips for getting the BEST flavor.<\/p>\n

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  1. Sauté the peppers and onions for a while<\/strong>, until they develop deep brown color. This will enhance the flavor of the whole soup. Cook them for a while, stirring only a few times, to allow them to really get browned.<\/li>\n
  2. Toast the spices and garlic<\/strong> by adding them to the peppers and onions and sautéing them for a while before adding the liquid. This will help release the oils from the spices and enhance the flavor.<\/li>\n
  3. Use homemade chicken stock, or turkey stock! <\/strong>Here’s a tutorial on how to make chicken stock<\/a>, and you can use the same method to make turkey stock, if you have leftover bones. Homemade stock\/broth always has much more flavor than store-bought, and it’s healthier too.<\/li>\n
  4. Use the juice AND zest of TWO limes. <\/strong>You can use one if you like, but I think the lime juice really makes the soup taste amazing and enhances all the other flavors. And stir the juice in at the end off the heat- this will help preserve its fresh flavor.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"How<\/p>\n

    Add grains to make it heartier<\/h2>\n

    You can add rice, barley, quinoa, pasta, or another grain to this soup to help bulk it up a bit.<\/p>\n

    You’ll need to add more chicken stock to help it cook, and it will take a little longer. For example, after you sauté the peppers and onions and add the spices, you can add 3\/4 cup basmati (or other long grain white)<\/em> rice. Then, add an extra 1.5 cups of chicken stock, and simmer until rice is tender.<\/p>\n

    Then, you can stir in the turkey, beans, and corn, and continue as directed.<\/p>\n

    \"A<\/p>\n

    Can I make leftover turkey soup with chicken?<\/h2>\n

    Absolutely! There’s practically no difference between cooked turkey and chicken. You can use leftover turkey in chicken noodle soup<\/a>, and you can use leftover roast chicken<\/a> in this leftover turkey soup recipe.<\/p>\n

    Which means this recipe can be enjoyed any time of the year, not just when you happen to have leftover turkey!<\/p>\n

    What to serve with this soup<\/h2>\n

    I love fixings on soup. For this southwestern leftover turkey soup, I recommend serving it with sour cream, chopped onions, and diced avocados.<\/p>\n

    And a little hot sauce if you like things spicy!<\/p>\n

    I also love serving it with homemade bread<\/a> or dinner rolls<\/a>, or tortilla chips<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \"A<\/p>\n

    Other recipes to use leftover turkey (or chicken)<\/h2>\n