Turkey Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

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Turn leftover roast turkey into a vibrant and satisfying bowl of chile-packed soup.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Turkey Tortilla Soup Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated November 24, 2023

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Turkey Tortilla Soup Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • A combination of dried chiles gives the soup a complex, rounded flavor. Sautéed Poblano pepper adds a bright vegetal note.
  • Soaking and puréeing the dried chiles results in a broth with a velvety smooth texture.
  • An assortment of garnishes complements the earthy chile-laden broth with fresh, acidic, and creamy elements.
  • Freshly fried tortilla strips have just the right balance of tenderness and crunchiness.

Turkey and chiles go remarkably well together. Heck, the turkey has a rightful claim to being the national bird of Mexico, and would have a good shot at the title had the golden eagle and a half dozen other birds in line for the job had slightly less imposing silhouettes on a coat of arms. Itis, however, widely consumed in Mexico.

Pavo en mole—turkey in a sauce of ground chiles, spices, seeds, and chocolate—is considered by many food historians and writers to be the pinnacle of Mexican cuisine, and this time I'm telling the truth.

"Only turkey has just the right ratio of bland background flavor to slightly funky forward flavor."

Chicken is too mild—it gets overpowered in a chile-based sauce. Beef works, but becomes a different beast entirely. Pork is more naturally paired with acidic green sauces. Only turkey has just the right ratio of bland background flavor to slightly funky forward flavor to be enveloped by a chile-based sauce, but not overwhelmed by it.*

*This last paragraph, while not filled with outright lies, is at least an exaggeration of a hyperbole, but bear with me.

Turkey Tortilla Soup Recipe (3)

Of course, the last thing anybody wants to do is to make a complex sauce with 40+ ingredients the day after Thanksgiving just to make use of a few leftovers. So what do you do? How about justmake a much simpler turkey tortilla soup instead?

Honestly,turkey tortilla soup is much better than chicken tortilla soup,and it comes together really fast. Some versions of tortilla soup are tomatoey. I prefer mine with just chiles, good stock, and a few aromatics (though a can of tomatoes wouldn't kill it). A mix of many chiles works, but a simple blend of ancho, pasilla, and a couple of canned chipotles gives it plenty of rich, fruity flavor with a touch of smoke from the chipotles.

You can, of course, use pre-ground chili powder if you'd like. As with my Texas chili recipe, I like to simmer chiles in chicken stock before puréeing them rather than grinding them first. You end up with a much smoother texture.

A fresh poblano and onion sautéed in oil before the remaining ingredients are added contributes a bright aroma to the mix, and a garnish of sliced scallions, diced avocado, and a handful of cilantro give you some nice freshness.

As for the namesake fried tortillas, bagged chips work just fine, but freshly fried strips achieve that elusive tender-but-crunchy texture that is the hallmark of the best tortilla soup.

November 2011

Recipe Details

Turkey Tortilla Soup Recipe

Cook30 mins

Active30 mins

Total30 mins

Serves4to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups peanut oil for frying tortilla strips (see note)

  • 4 corn tortillas, cut in half, then sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch strips (see note)

  • Kosher salt

  • 2 pasilla chiles

  • 2 ancho chiles

  • 2 whole chipotle chiles canned in adobo sauce plus 1 tablespoon sauce

  • 2 quarts low-sodium canned or homemade chicken or turkey broth

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 1 large onion, finely diced

  • 1 whole poblano pepper, seeds and stem removed, finely diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, grated on a microplane grater

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 1 pound leftover turkey meat, shredded by hand into rough 10-inch pieces

  • Sliced scallions, sliced cilantro, diced avocado, diced jalapeño and lime slices for serving

Directions

  1. Heat peanut oil to 350°F (175°C) in a Dutch oven or wok over high heat. Add tortilla strips and fry, agitating with a metal spider or slotted spatula until strips are crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, season with salt, and set aside.

  2. Combine all chiles in a medium saucepan and add half of the chicken broth. Simmer over medium-high heat until the chiles are completely tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender or immersion blender cup and blend until completely smooth.

  3. While chiles are simmering, heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering. Add the onions and poblano pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add remaining chicken broth. Add chile purée from step 2 as soon as it is ready.

  4. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, add turkey meat, and cook until flavors have blended, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Serve hot, passing tortilla strips, scallions, cilantro, avocado, jalapeños, and lime wedges at the table.

Special Equipment

Dutch oven, instant-read thermometer, blender or immersion blender

Notes

You can use store-bought tortilla strips or crumbled tortilla chips if desired. For a milder flavor, remove one ancho and one pasilla chile and replace 1 cup chicken stock in step three with one 14.4-ounce can of diced tomatoes with their juice or Ro-Tel tomatoes.

Read More

  • Real-Deal Tortilla Soup
  • Quick Tortilla Soup With Chicken and Avocado
  • Sopa de Lima (Yucatán-Style Lime Soup)
  • Leftover Roast Turkey Soup
  • Basic Chili Paste to Replace Chili Powder
  • What to Do With Dried Chiles: Recipes, Cooking Techniques, and Shopping Tips
  • Soups
  • Turkey
  • Chile Pepper
  • Quick Dinners
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
357Calories
14g Fat
28g Carbs
32g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4to 6
Amount per serving
Calories357
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g19%
Saturated Fat 2g12%
Cholesterol 76mg25%
Sodium 476mg21%
Total Carbohydrate 28g10%
Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 32g
Vitamin C 14mg72%
Calcium 88mg7%
Iron 3mg18%
Potassium 773mg16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Turkey Tortilla Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make bland turkey soup taste better? ›

You can add more herbs and different spices to add more flavor to turkey soup, but sometimes a bit of salt is all you need. The other clincher is cooking the carcass low and slow to get as much flavor from the roast turkey as possible. Try sauteeing your vegetables in a bit of olive oil before adding to the soup.

What can I use to thicken my tortilla soup? ›

Corn mesa is a type of corn flour that is used to make corn tortillas, a staple served with many meals in Mexico. Mixing corn mesa and water together to make a slurry and stirring it into the stockpot of soup naturally thickens the broth while ingraining an incredible corn flavor.

How to make turkey soup with Jamie Oliver? ›

Season and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Tear the mushrooms and shred or slice the turkey, then add to the pan and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes, then add fish sauce and lime juice to taste. The finished soup should be sour, salty and hot so add another bruised chilli or two, if needed.

Why is my tortilla soup watery? ›

Keep Simmering. Sometimes all your soup needs is a little more time on the stove. Allow your chicken tortilla soup to simmer uncovered for an extended period. The heat will help evaporate some of the liquid, naturally thickening the soup.

What gives soup depth of flavor? ›

"If your broth is lacking in savory richness, try adding roasted onion, tomato paste, mushrooms, seaweed, soy sauce, or miso. These ingredients add umami flavor and depth to broth," she says. The choice of ingredient depends on the recipe, though.

How do you deepen soup flavor? ›

Brown or Sear the Meat

If you are adding meat to a soup, sear or brown it in a sauté pan before you add it to the soup. This adds a deeper savory flavor to the whole soup. This trick is especially useful for things like chicken and sausage, which can sometimes get bland and rubbery while floating in a brothy soup.

Is it better to thicken soup with flour or cornstarch? ›

It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

Can you use masa harina to thicken soup? ›

Masa harina is a fine, powdery meal sold in grocery stores and Mexican markets. It is made from field corn, but is not the same thing as cornmeal or corn flour and cannot be used as such. It makes a perfect thickener for soups and stews, especially if you want to add enchilada flavor.

Can I use sour cream in soup? ›

A dollop or two of sour cream or Greek yogurt are also lovely ways to thicken potato soup while also adding a little tang.

What is the secret ingredient to the secret soup? ›

16,540,467 views The secret ingredient is... nothing! Despite that revelation, this so-called secret-soup is one of the most hotly requested dishes in the Babish Culinary Universe.

What is the gelatinous stock in turkey soup? ›

Turkey stock will turn into a bit of a gel once it's been in the fridge due to the collagen that was formerly in the bones and skin of the turkey. The collagen (which is thought to have many health benefits) cooks out and ends up in the broth, but will turn into liquid once it's heated again.

How can I thicken up tortilla soup? ›

Pureed chiles easily thicken tortilla soup

Adding this to the broth brings all of that great heat and flavor, but as this simmers, it also helps thicken the broth. While Flay uses a mild ancho chile that even beginners can tolerate, any dried chile would work.

How can I add flavor to tasteless soup? ›

It's not a hot spicy just a flavorful spicey. I'm a fan of herbs, too - something like sage and basil for hearty, or tarragon and lemon thyme for lighter soup. Also, combine tastes, like hot and sour or savory and sweet.

How do you make soup creamier and thicker? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice.

How do I fix bland tasting soup? ›

A little tomato sauce, garlic, salt, and bay leaves while cooking was Patty's recommendation. Barbara said, “I add a beef billion cube, oregano, basil and garlic.” That would definitely spice up the soup. The bullion usually adds a lot of sodium so you get a lot of salty flavor. “Six pepper, sparingly”, Laureen said.

Why is my turkey soup bland? ›

Not Adding Acid

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

How do you fix bland turkey stock? ›

Make sure you season your turkey stock/broth with herbs (save your carrot tops from making Glazed Carrots), fresh parsley, herbs, peppercorns and bay leaf. If you add too much water, it can water down the stock making it bland (in this case, once you strain it, simmer it to reduce and intensify flavor).

How do you make turkey not taste bland? ›

Under-seasoning is one of the biggest mistakes people make with ground turkey. You'll find the meat bland and flavorless if you don't add a hefty serving of dried herbs and spices, as well as the unforgettable salt-and-pepper combo.

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