This Thai turkey soup recipe is irresistibly flavorful with a creamy coconut curry broth. It’s really easy to make and the tastiest way to use up leftover turkey!.
If you like Thai-inspired recipes, try my Easy Thai Shrimp Curry or this Thai Green Curry Soup next.
Leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner provides an excellent opportunity to get creative in the kitchen. One of the tastiest ways to use up those turkey leftovers is to make a flavorful turkey curry soup.
This hearty and comforting soup is simple to prepare, full of immune-boosting ingredients, and an absolute crowd-pleaser. The combination of warm spices, tender turkey meat potatoes carrots, onions, and curry powder makes an addictive broth that will have everyone asking for seconds.
In this article, we will provide a step-by-step turkey curry soup recipe along with tips for customizing it to your taste. Let’s get started!
An Easy One-Pot Soup
The beauty of this soup is how quickly it comes together in just one pot. You don’t need to be a chef to master this recipe.
It starts by sautéing onions, carrots, celery, and curry powder to build a flavorful base. Chicken or turkey broth and water are added along with potatoes, apples, and spices.
Once this simmers for a bit to develop the flavors, cooked chopped turkey is stirred in at the end to heat through. A swirl of coconut milk finishes it off.
The ingredient list is simple with no hard-to-find items. And the hands-on time is minimal – most of the cooking time is unattended simmering.
Choose Your Spices
The warming spices are what give this soup its signature flavor. Curry powder provides the main curry taste, but you can amplify it by also adding garam masala, cumin, coriander, ginger, cayenne pepper, or other spices you enjoy.
If using store-bought curry powder, 2 to 3 tablespoons is a good amount for a pot of soup. Start with less spice and add more later to taste. Homemade curry powder often has a stronger flavor profile so you may need less.
Turmeric and a pinch of cinnamon also enhance the curry flavor. Curries made with coconut milk tend to be a little sweeter, so you may want to boost the spices a bit.
Use Any Leftover Turkey
Shredded cooked turkey is ideal in this soup, whether it’s leftover roasted turkey or turkey pieces cooked sous vide or in an Instant Pot.
Dark meat turkey with the skin removed works very well since it stays moist when reheated. But you can use white breast meat too.
For the best texture, coarsely chop or shred the turkey into bite-size pieces. Avoid over-shredding into stringy bits that will disintegrate into the broth.
You can use fully cooked turkey or slightly undercook it, as the soup will reheat and tenderize it. About 2 to 3 cups of turkey is right for a batch of soup.
Replace Potatoes with Rice
Potatoes are usually included in turkey curry soup to add heartiness and make it a full meal. However, you can substitute rice if you prefer a less starchy soup.
White rice, jasmine rice, or basmati rice all work well. Cook the rice separately ahead of time before adding to the soup.
For a more nutrient-dense option, use brown rice. Just increase the cook time by 15 to 30 minutes so the rice softens fully in the broth.
You can also include both rice and potatoes for layers of textures and carbohydrates!
Customize with Veggies
One of the great things about soups is how versatile they are. You can tweak this recipe to use your favorite vegetables.
Good veggie additions include:
- Diced sweet potatoes or butternut squash
- Frozen peas or green beans
- Diced zucchini or spinach
- Diced red bell pepper for color
- Corn kernels
- Sautéed mushrooms
Aim for 1 to 2 cups total of diced veggies beyond the onions, carrots, and celery. Go with vegetables that cook quickly since the soup only simulates for 10-15 minutes after adding them.
Finish with Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs provide a vibrant flavor pop. Chopped cilantro, parsley, basil, or mint are all tasty options. You can also use a herb blend.
Stir in about 1⁄4 cup of chopped fresh herbs just before serving. Topping individual bowls with more herbs adds visual appeal along with extra flavor.
Some classic Indian herb combinations to try are cilantro with mint or cilantro with curry leaves.
Turkey Curry Soup Tips
- For convenience, prep veggies and cook turkey 1-2 days before making soup
- Add veggies in order of longest cook time needed to shortest
- Simmer soup as long as needed for potatoes and rice to fully soften
- Add more broth or water if soup gets too thick
- Stir in lemon juice right before serving to brighten flavors
Creamy Coconut Turkey Curry Soup
For a luscious, creamy version, stir in coconut milk along with the cooked turkey at the end. Light coconut milk works well for a brothy soup texture.
Top bowls with toasted unsweetened coconut flakes for garnish along with fresh herbs.
Satisfying Turkey Curry Soup
With its complex flavors and easy preparation, this turkey curry soup is sure to become a regular recipe in your dinner rotation. It reheats excellently for quick meals throughout the week.
The versatility of the recipe also allows you to put your own spin on it by tweaking the spices, protein, vegetables, and garnishes.
Leftover turkey will never go to waste again with this hearty, satisfying soup!
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Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I recommend this ladle for easily dishing up this soup.
- This Staub Dutch oven is the one I use.
- This cute onion saver will hold the other half of your onion.
Why you’ll love it
If you had Thanksgiving, I hope you had a great day! If you made a roast turkey, you probably have some left over. This Thai turkey curry soup is the perfect thing to ease you out of your turkey coma. It’s also a super low effort alternative to sandwiches.
Thai food is always fresh and warm, like this turkey soup recipe. That’s why I love making Thai food. We’ve got creamy coconut milk, fresh herbs, and vibrant flavors. Such a good combo, and you’ll having a piping hot bowl ready in just 30 minutes.
- Olive oil – for sautéing
- Onion and garlic – tasty aromatics. I like using sweet (Vidalia) onions.
- Thai red curry paste is a ready-made sauce with lemongrass and spices that smell good. I suggest the Thai Kitchen brand, which I wouldn’t call spicy (though some brands are).
- Chicken broth – for more savory flavor
- Lemonade
- Turkey – we’re using cooked leftover turkey
- Rice noodles are the clear ones that come in different sizes. I like thicker noodles better than vermicelli here.
- Red bell pepper – it adds some veggie goodness
- If you want the best taste and texture from your coconut milk, make sure you use full fat.
- Basil, cilantro, scallions – classic fresh ingredients in Thai-style recipes
Of course, this soup is great for Thanksgiving leftovers, but you could also make it any other time you have Roast Chicken or rotisserie chicken left over. Or just cook a turkey breast if you want something a little different. I’ve done that before.
How to Make Curry Turkey Soup ~ Leftover Turkey or Chicken Recipe
What is ground turkey curry soup?
This quick and easy Thai-inspired ground turkey curry soup is overflowing with flavor and nutrients for the most delicious, heart meal! Easy to customize using any kind of curry paste, a variety of animal proteins, and just about any vegetable, you can take this simple curry soup recipe in all sorts of directions.
How do you cook ground turkey in a crock pot?
Add the ground turkey to the surface of the pot and allow it to brown for a few minutes before breaking it into small pieces with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon and mixing it in with the vegetables. Add in the chopped zucchini, chicken broth, coconut milk, red curry paste, fish sauce, and pure maple syrup. Bring the soup to a full boil.
How do you cook a curry in a Dutch oven?
Take your love for curry and turn it into soup! Heat the avocado oil in a large thick-bottomed pot such as a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion to the large pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent and beginning to brown slightly, about 5 to 8 minutes.
How do you cook chicken noodle soup?
In a soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté the onion in the oil until softened. Stir in the garlic and curry paste, and cook for about 30 seconds. Add in the broth, water, lime juice, turkey, noodles, and red bell pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. Stir in the coconut milk. Simmer until the noodles are cooked through.
Can you freeze Turkey curry soup?
The best way to freeze this curried turkey soup is: Prepare the easy turkey curry soup minus the rice portion and freeze it that way. Then, prepare and add the rice to the turkey mixture just before serving. Here is more information on How to Freeze Soup.
How do you make a fried chicken curry?
Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven. When hot, add onions and celery, sauteing until golden and tender. Add salt, pepper, allspice, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, curry and cayenne (I only use a couple dashes). Saute until fragrant. Deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping any browned bits from the bottom.