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Turkey Bean and Kale Soup


Did someone say they wanted to eat something healthy?
We've been enjoying this soup since Christmas and when it was gone I went right back to town to buy more dried beans.

If you cleaned up your turkey carcass after Christmas dinner by putting it in the freezer,
it is a good time now to pull it out and try a new soup.


This Turkey Soup is full of nutrition with a dose of goodness in every spoonful with dark leafy greens and beans.
I always keep dried beans in my pantry and Kale is readily available during the winter months.

  • 1 turkey carcass
  • 4 litres of water or about 1 gallon
  • 1 500 gram bag of great northern beans (about 2 cups)
  • 3 stalks celery - diced
  • 1 large onion - diced
  • 4 carrots - diced
  • 1 large bunch of kale - torn into bite sized pieces  ( to make about 6 cups)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  1. Put the turkey carcass in a large stock pot and cover with water.
  2. Bring to a boil and simmer several hours.  (If you have a very large turkey carcass you might want to double the amount of water and then reserve half of the stock for another soup.  Freeze it in a ice cream pail.
  3. Put the dried beans in a large saucepan and cover with water that is several inches above the beans.
  4. Bring to a boil.  Boil 2 minutes and turn off heat and let sit an hour.  Strain.
  5. Turn off the heat and strain the soup into another large pot.  Let the bones cool and pick of the meat and return it to the stock.  Discard the bones.
  6. Turn the heat back on and add the beans and seasonings.
  7. Simmer for an hour and a half and then add the vegetables, and simmer an additional hour or until the beans are tender.
  8. Taste the soup and if necessary add a chicken bouillon cube to bring the flavour to your liking.

16 comments:

  1. Now, that does look healthy and yummy. Think, I'll try it with some chicken, since the turkey is long gone.

    Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Mel

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  2. What a great recipe! I made a similiar soup this week and didn't have the kale so used spinach. I will try this one with turkey.

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  3. I'm going to eat this, so that I can justify having those pineapple rolls from earlier in the week! :)

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  4. Love the kale option with this yummy looking soup! Beautiful...

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  5. yum, sounds really good. i happen to have dried beans and a turkey!

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  6. Looks delicious! I always have dried beans on hand, just need some kale and I'm good to go.

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  7. This looks really good. I do love kale although Phil hates beans but maybe I could get him to try a little. Thanks!

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  8. I am always looking for soup inspiration and this looks great. I usually have Kale around and I could probably substitute chicken. I've been looking for bean soup ideas so this one covers almost everything!
    Thanks!

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  9. Oh yum!! I am always looking for a new soup recipe. Love it. Thanks for sharing!!

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  10. I make broth in the pressure cooker, it speeds the process and uses a fraction of the electricity or gas.

    Break the carcass up, add water, bring to a boil, cook 10 or 15 minutes at pressure remove from heat and allow to lose pressure naturally. If you are adding a lot of water, cook longer.

    When it has cooled any fragments of meat will fall off the bones, you can then strain if you want a clear broth. If you want fat free, refrigerate and skim before straining.

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  11. This looks amazing! I've been trying to find a way to get my kids to eat kale! This may be it...

    Thanks!
    Angela @Whatcha Find?

    http://whatchafind.wordpress.com

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  12. Not a fan of kale....except in this soup!
    Luuuuuuuuv it! Kids even liked it!

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  13. One reader said they were looking for a way for kids to eat kale. A friend of mine makes kale "chips" for her kids. Tear kale into bite sized pieces, toss with a little bit of oil and salt, and roast for 15 minutes or until crunchy. Apparently she goes through a few bunches of kale every week this way!

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    Replies
    1. PLEASE ...... what temp do use roast the kale ?

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  14. I have no dried beans, do you think 2 cans of Great Northern added just near the end would be okay? I really prefer the texture of dried ones but want to make this today and can't get to the store until Monday.

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    Replies
    1. Yes Tracey, canned beans added in the last half hour would be just fine.

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