smoked turkey soup

 
 

Prep Time: 10min // Cook Time: 50 min// Total: 60min // Serving: 11 cups

This hearty and flavorful soup takes on a traditional role of split pea soup, except with lentils. This soup is full of the goodness of smoked turkey with the texture of green lentils, and easy to find everyday vegetables.

It is also low in sodium (less than 450 milligrams per serving of sodium) and fat (less than 5 grams per serving of fat), a perfect soup for people who are looking for heart-healthy dishes. This recipe use limited amount of salt. The savory flavor mainly comes from the smoked turkey meat and the bone. The best part of this soup is its versatility. You can tailor it to your preference by adding or swapping out vegetables. Adding more vegetables such as winter squash, zucchini or potatoes to make the soup heartier. Not a fan of celery or carrots? No worries, replace them with spinach or mushrooms. Make this soup your own to please your taste buds. This soup is perfect for warming your soul on a chilly day, or any time when you want a wholesome, satisfying and heart-healthy meal.

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups dry green lentils

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 cups diced onions (~ ½ medium onion)

  • 2 cups diced carrots (~4 small carrots)

  • 1 cup diced celery (2 stocks)

  • 2 teaspoons chopped garlic (~2 big cloves), divide

  • 1 teaspoon thyme, divide

  • 2 cups diced smoked turkey (1 smoked turkey drumstick), save the drumstick bone

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 7 cups water

Instructions:

  1. Rinse the lentils thoroughly until the water is clear

  2. In a soup pot, sauté the onion with olive on medium heat until onions become semi-translucent

  3. Combine carrots, celery, garlic and ½ teaspoon thyme and mix well

  4. Add smoked turkey meat and sauté them until carrots becomes semi-soft (when a fork can poke through carrots). Add up to ¼ cup of water instead of oil  to help the sauteing process if needed

  5. Stir in the dry lentils and the remaining ½ teaspoon of thyme

  6. Place the turkey drumstick bone inside the soup pot

  7. Add 7 cups of water and bay leaf. Make sure the turkey bone is immersed in the water

  8. Bring the pot to a boil then turn down the heat to low

  9. Simmer for 50 minutes or until the lentils are softened but not mushy

  10. Serve immediately