AOKN
Culinary Explorer
You know how you always end up with an enormous amount of turkey
after a holiday meal? Is that correct? I mean, what the heck do you do with all that bird? But worry not—I have the perfect fix: Pastina soup made with leftover turkey! Your taste senses will appreciate you for this game-changing product. 
Stock (optional to make; can use chicken broth instead):


Stock (optional to make; can use chicken broth instead):
- 1 turkey carcass
- Water
- Salt
Soup:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 4 carrots, peeled and diced
- 4 ribs celery, trimmed and diced
- 1 fennel bulb, trimmed, cored, and thinly sliced
- 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- 5 sprigs thyme, bundled together with kitchen twine
- 6-7 cups prepared stock from above or use chicken broth
- 4 cups chopped or shredded leftover turkey; use in addition to any meat you pull off the turkey carcass
- ¾ cup pastina or ditalini
- 1 lemon, juiced
- ½ cup fresh parsley, minced
- Big pinch of fennel fronds, minced
- Crushed red pepper to taste
- Salt and pepper
Make the stock:
- Place the turkey carcass in a large stockpot and cover with 12 cups water. You may need more depending on the size of the carcass. Try your best to immerse the bird with water, but if your pot isn’t big enough, it’s ok if the back bone sticks out a bit. Add a big pinch of salt to the water.
- Bring to a boil and then simmer for 2-3 hours. You may wish to flip the bird once during simmering. The liquid should reduce by almost half.
- Cover the pot (with foil, if the turkey is sticking out) and transfer to the refrigerator overnight.
- The next day, remove the carcass from the stock. Pick off any remaining meat and set it aside in a bowl to be added to the soup. Discard the carcass.
- If the stock is very gelatinous, place it on the heat over medium-high just until the gelatin melts, and the stock returns to a liquid. Turn off the heat and strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
- Give the pot a quick rinse and wipe it out. Return it to the stovetop.
Cook the soup aromatics:
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and fennel. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the bundle of thyme.
Simmer the soup:
- Pour in the prepared stock and the chopped turkey. Add salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the thyme.
Finish the soup:
- Return the soup to a boil. Add the pastina and cook for 3-4 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper.
- Finish the soup by adding parsley, fennel fronds, and lemon juice.
To serve:
- Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with lemon wedges and minced parsley on the side. Enjoy!
This turkey soup is the bomb
. Not only does it help you get rid of that leftover turkey, but it also satisfies your hungry fam
. Perfect for a cozy night in or a hearty work lunch. Don't miss out on all the warm, comforting vibes this soup brings to your table. Give it a go!


