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    Home » Whole Food Recipes » Homemade Soups

    May 7, 2021 | By Jami

    Curried Turkey and Rice Soup (or Chicken)

    Jump to Recipe
    curried chicken-turkey-rice soup pin

    Spice up your turkey and rice soup with curry and coconut milk for a delicious take on a classic, comforting soup. Made with bone broth, it works just as well with leftover chicken, too.

    curried turkey-rice soup tureen and bowl

    Some links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

    I grew up watching people throw turkey bones out after Thanksgiving dinner. It's just what everyone I knew did.

    I had no idea that what was being thrown out would one day become my favorite part of Thanksgiving.

    When I got into cooking as an adult and realized you could simmer bones from roasting a turkey (or chicken) and use it to make a so-good-for-you bone broth that you could turn into soup, I was hooked. It's SO good!

    Okay, I also grew up with canned soups, so maybe you can understand my excitement here - delicious soup from something you'd throw away!

    In the years since this discovery I have regularly used the bone broth I make in hearty vegetable soup (our standard cold-fighter) as well as a lot of traditional noodle soup.

    Because I also now appreciate the health benefits of homemade bone broth, I'm always looking for more ways to use homemade broth in soups and stews.

    In an effort to come up with something different, I decided to make a turkey and rice soup but flavor it with curry powder creamy with coconut milk.

    It turned out to be incredibly flavorful and quickly became our family's favorite. In fact, it's really my go-to leftover turkey or chicken soup now - it's that good!

    While I originally made this with our leftover turkey bones and turkey, it's obviously just as good with chicken, too, so you don't have to wait until Thanksgiving to make this soup!

    Curried Turkey and Rice Soup (Or Chicken)

    turkey-rice curry soup in tureen

    Ingredients

    • turkey or chicken stock + cooked meat (you can make it like this from your leftover roasts or use canned/frozen broth and cooked poultry)
    • butter or olive oil
    • onion 
    • carrots 
    • celery 
    • garlic 
    • curry powder (hot or mild) 
    • white or brown rice (brown will take longer to cook)
    • cooked chopped turkey or chicken
    • canned coconut milk
    • fresh or frozen spinach, chard, cabbage, or kale

    Adding lots of vegetables to soups make them one-dish meals, always a goal around here as well as in your busy households, too, I'm sure.

    If you don't have spinach or one of the other vegetables, feel free to substitute with red peppers, cauliflower, chard, kale, or even cabbage. Soup is forgiving that way.

    This soup is a great option for those needing to be dairy free since the coconut milk adds the creaminess. While coconut milk is not normally combined with Indian curry, it works really well here.

    Hot Curry or Not?

    We like our food spicy so I always use a hot curry powder, but again, it's easy to customize this to your tastes by using mild curry or adding less.

    Equipment

    • Cutting board and chef's knife
    • 4-6 quart stock pot
    serving turkey-rice curried soup

    Directions

    If you already have bone broth and cooked turkey or chicken in the freezer, you can have this soup ready in 40-45 minutes.

    Having a store of these in the freezer is one of the reasons I like to roast a bird and make a big batch of broth when I can - this waste-not meal prep goes a long way to easy weekday meals!

    Once you have your broth and cooked poultry, the steps to make this yummy soup are pretty straight-forward:

    1. Heat butter or oil in a large soup pot and cook the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and curry powder, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
    2. Add stock/bone broth and rice, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the rice is done (15 minutes for white rice, 30-40 minutes for brown).
    3. Stir in chopped turkey or chicken, coconut milk and spinach. Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes more.
    Turkey and rice soup with curry and coconut milk

    Turkey & Rice Soup FAQ

    What is curry powder made of?

    Turmeric is the main spice used, followed by a combination of coriander, cumin, ginger, chili peppers (cayenne), black pepper, and sometimes fenugreek. You can find it spiced either mild, medium, or hot.

    What's the difference between curry powder and curry paste?

    Thai cooking uses curry pastes, usually in red, yellow or green. They are made up of chilis and spices and vary in hotness. I like them all and usually buy a set of all three to have in the pantry for quick Thai style curry dishes like this one.

    Curry powder is used in Indian cooking and the spices are the dry spice blend with turmeric usually as the main ingredient.

    What is the best curry powder?

    I like Rani Hot Curry Powder (or Rani Mild Curry Powder) and Penzy's Curry Powder. Other popular brands of curry powders include Spiceology, Spicewalla, and Sun Brand.

    How do you make curry soup thicker?

    You can add either a flour-water or starch-water mixture to the soup towards the end of cooking if the soup is thinner than you'd like.

    Mix 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of flour, cornstarch, or potato starch in a small bowl with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Add it to the soup as you stir the liquid, and continue to stir until the soup thickens.

    The moral here?

    Save your bones, make some broth, and you'll be rewarded with a soup so good it will have you practically licking the bowl!

    Serving Ideas

    • Easy Sourdough Artisan Bread Recipe
    • Easy Sourdough Artisan Bread Recipe
    • The Original Soft 100% Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls Recipe
    • Refreshing Celery Salad with Onions & Parmesan
    • Kale Cranberry Salad Recipe with Feta & Pecans
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.75 from 8 votes

    Curried Turkey and Rice Soup (or Chicken)

    Spice up your turkey and rice soup with curry for a delicious, different take on a classic, comforting soup. This recipe is quick and easy and results in a warm, comforting meal - that's just as good with chicken as it is with turkey.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Soups
    Cuisine: American
    Yield: 8 servings
    Author: Jami Boys

    Equipment

    • Cutting board & chef's knife
    • 4 to 6 quart stock pot

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
    • 1 onion chopped
    • 2 carrots peeled & chopped
    • 2 stalks celery sliced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 tablespoons curry powder, hot or mild, to taste
    • 6 cups turkey or chicken stock, preferably homemade
    • 1/2 cup long grain white or brown rice*
    • 2 cups cooked turkey or chicken, chopped
    • 1 13.66-ounce can coconut milk
    • 1 10-ounce bag fresh or frozen spinach, or chard, cabbage, or kale

    Instructions

    • Heat butter or oil in a large 4-6 quart soup pot over medium heat and add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and curry powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until vegetables are tender.
    • Add stock and rice, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until rice is done - about 15 minutes for white rice, 30-40 minutes for brown.
    • Stir in chopped turkey or chicken, coconut milk and spinach. Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through, 5-10 minutes more.

    Notes

    *Note that the cooking time is for white rice - it will be longer if using brown rice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 727mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 7234IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 3mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @anoregoncottage or tag #anoregoncottage!
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    curried turkey or chicken rice soup

    More Bone Broth Soups to Try:

    Homemade Turkey Noodle Soup in bowls
    Traditional Turkey Noodle Soup Recipe from Leftover Bones
    Use up your leftover turkey bones to make this delicious turkey noodle soup - it may become your favorite part of the holiday turkey!
    Click For Recipe
    Chicken-Veg. soup in bowl
    Quick & Healthy Chicken Bone Broth Vegetable Soup
    Make a healthy meal with this easy-to-make soup recipe packed with healing bone broth, and lots of vegetables. Noodles optional.
    Click For Recipe
    homemade chicken noodle soup in bowl
    Quick & Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
    A family favorite, 30 minute quick and easy homemade chicken noodle soup is thick and healthy - maybe the perfect comfort food!
    Click For Recipe
    turkey rice soup above in white bowl
    Creamy Turkey Rice Soup (or Chicken)
    This recipe for creamy turkey rice soup makes a delicious, bone broth nourishing, one dish meal that's just as good with chicken. Serve with a hearty bread and save the leftovers for delicious lunches.
    Click For Recipe
    Disclosure: affiliate links in this article will earn commission based on sales, but it doesn't change your price. Click here to read our full disclaimer and advertising disclosure.

    About Jami

    Since 2009 Jami Boys has been helping readers live a simple homemade life through whole food recipes, doable gardening, and easy DIY projects on An Oregon Cottage. From baking bread, to creating a floor from paper, to growing and preserving food, Jami shares the easiest ways to get things done. She's been featured in Cottages and Bungalows, Old House Journal, and First for Women magazines as well as numerous sites like Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, and Apartment Therapy.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hanna says

      August 02, 2018 at 7:53 pm

      Wow. I'm so surprised there is not any comments on this soup. (Maybe I'm missing the comments section?? XD ) It is INCREDIBLE. I absolutely love curry so this really hit the spot for me. The Hubby was a big fan of it too, we might have seconds.. and thirds. And I didn't have to go to the grocery store for anything! (Well, I would have if I had got the coconut milk. I substituted half & half for it instead.) Added a touch of fresh basil as well. Mmmmmmmm. Thank you so much for this recipe, I will definitely be adding it into my rotation. <3

      Reply
      • Jami says

        August 03, 2018 at 1:47 pm

        I know, Hanna, I feel like this is a treasure people are missing - glad you found it! 🙂 It's literally the only way I like to make turkey or chicken soup now, lol. Regular soup just seems so boring after this! It's especially nice for those who are dairy free to have a creamy soup (though obviously it works with half-and-half, too!).

        Reply

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