Coconut Curry Turkey Soup with rice is a soul-warming soup that’s easy to make and irresistibly good! It will be gone before you can get a bowl for yourself.
Coconut Curry Turkey Rice Soup is a simple soup.
Easy to prepare and quick to get on the table. It’s comfort food that’s exciting, out of the ordinary.
One warning however! Be sure to get a bowl of this homemade turkey soup before turning it over to family and friends.
My kids devoured almost the entire batch before my husband and I could dish a meager bowl for ourselves!
Coconut Curry Turkey Soup
One of my favorite curry recipes is one I learned when living in Singapore.
It combines the dry curry powder with some coconut milk to form a dense paste. The mixture cooks for about 10 minutes before starting the rest of the curry dish.
This allows the flavors to blend and become intoxicatingly aromatic, turning one’s kitchen into an exotic paradise.
It delivers big, deep flavor and is perfect in this turkey soup recipe.
Turkey Soup Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter
- Yellow Onion
- Madras Curry Powder
- Coconut milk, unsweetened
- Granulated Sugar
- Turkey or Chicken Stock (homemade or store bought)
- Carrots
- cooked Turkey
- Lemongrass powder (optional)
- prepared Rice (white, brown, wild rice or a rice blend all work well)
- Salt to taste
Ingredients Notes
Turkey
This recipe is a perfect turkey leftovers recipe. It’s easy to make over a lazy holiday and a wholesome satisfying recipe.
If you do not have leftover turkey, no worries. Buy turkey from your grocery store deli where they will slice it for you.
Request they cut the turkey ¼-inch thick. This will provide a nice size when chopping the turkey for the soup.
Also, of neither option is available, rotisserie chicken is a great substitute.
Madras Curry Powder
Curry powders are a blend of different spices.
Madras Curry Powder shares many of the same spcies as regular curry powder. It is also ‘hotter’ or spicier due to containing some spicy chilies.
Madras curry powder can be harder to find. Regular curry powder can be substituted in this turkey soup recipe.
It will have the earthy curry flavor; it just won’t be as spicy.
Madras Curry Powder can be found on Amazon.com if you cannot find it locally.
Lemongrass Powder
Lemongrass has a bright, almost citrus flavor. Adding a bit of the lemongrass powder to the soup gives a slight tang or familiar flavor found in many Asian dishes.
Lemongrass powder can usually be found in Asian supermarkets or spice shops. Also, on Amazon.com.
Why Add Granulated Sugar?
Adding just a smidge of sugar to a coconut curry really allows the curry flavors to pop!
It does not make the soup sweet. It just enhances the savory flavors by providing a contrasting sweetness.
Turkey Stock
If possible, try to make stock with your turkey carcass after a holiday. It’s easy to make and the stock can be frozen too.
Here are two turkey stock recipes to make it yourself:
Chicken stock or broth may also be substituted.
Canned Coconut Milk vs Coconut Milk in a Carton
The main difference between the two types of coconut milk is how diluted they are with water.
Coconut milk in a carton has a much higher water content so the flavor will be lighter than canned coconut milk.
Coconut milk in a carton can be substituted if needed.
For the most robust coconut flavor use canned unsweetened coconut milk.
How to Make this Turkey Soup – Step-by-Step
STEP 1: Melt the butter in a large, heavy stock pot or Dutch oven; add the onions (photo 1). Saute until they begin to become translucent (photo 2).
STEP 2: Add the curry powder (photo 3) and coconut milk (photo 4). Heat on medium-high heat, stirring often, until the mixture becomes aromatic (5-10 minutes).
When you smell the curry aroma proceed to the next step (photo 5).
STEP 3: Add the broth, chopped turkey, carrots. sugar and lemongrass powder (photos 6-9). Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until carrots are soft.
STEP 4: Add the cooked rice (photo 10) and allow to cook 5 additional minutes. Serve hot.
More Soup Recipes You’ll Love
- Jalapeno Turkey Noodle Soup
- Vegetable Beef Soup (Instant Pot + Stove Top)
- Homemade Tomato Soup: an Easy Fresh Tomato Soup Recipe
- Easy Chicken Soup Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup
- Peppery Sausage White Bean Kale Soup
- French Potato Leek Soup
- Coconut Curry Soup with Noodles
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Recipe
Coconut Curry Turkey Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted Butter
- ½ large Yellow Onion , sliced into strips (not chopped)
- 1 ½ tablespoon Madras Curry Powder
- 1 5.46 fluid ounce can Coconut milk , unsweetened
- 2 teaspoons granulated Sugar
- 6 cups Turkey or Chicken Stock (homemade if possible)
- ½ cup small Carrots , peeled and sliced
- 2 cups cooked Turkey , rough chopped
- ½ teaspoon Lemongrass powder
- 1 cup prepared Rice (white, brown, wild rice or a rice blend all work well)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large, heavy pot, melt butter. Add onions strips and sauté until they begin to turn translucent.
- Add curry powder and coconut milk to the pot. Stir to fully combine. Heat on medium heat, stirring frequently, until curry becomes aromatic (approximately 5-10 minutes).
- Add sugar, stock, carrots, turkey, and lemongrass. Stir to fully combine. Bring to a low boil, lower heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until carrots are soft.
- Stir in the rice and allow to cook 5 additional minutes. Salt to taste and serve.
Nutrition
Originally published: December 4, 2013
Coconut Curry Turkey Soup is a warming leftovers turkey soup!
Anita says
Making this soup ASAP to use up my leftover turkey. It smells and tastes amazing. 🙂
Irina says
I just love your recipe of Coconut Curry Turkey Soup. Going to make it, since we have got some turkey as a leftover from yesterday. Your recipe has arrived on time:) Thanks for sharing.
Perdita Mathieson says
Hello Toni! You and I have something in common . . .I also lived in Singapore during the thirties etc,
and was the ‘New Year’ . . .jumping out of a huge ‘cracker’ at the Raffles Hotel! I loved going for
rickshaw rides, and enjoyed eating ‘satay sticks’ while visiting ‘Change Alley’ !! But now my memory
of such exploits is gradually ‘dimming’ due to my age (90)!! I shall be trying out your Coconut Curry
Soup soon, and many thanks for jogging my memory! I wish you and your family a very merry, and
healthy Christmas and New Year!
Toni Dash says
I LOVE all your thoughts Perdita!! So many memories for me too. I turned on a TV show this week featuring a group of high profile younger people in Singapore talking about their lives. It struck me how much it has changed, both in architecture and sophistication. Did you see the recent movie ‘Crazy Rich Asians’? It’s set in Singapore. Was like a little trip over there. Best holiday wishes to you too!
Jessica Burgess says
GIve me “curry” anything!!! I had never thought about adding curry to soup and now I’m a HUGE fan. Thank you!
Laura Reese says
This soup is perfect for my turkey left overs. We loved it. The curry flavors made it especially good.
Katie says
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
Myrah Duque says
I love this recipe, it’s perfect for a cold day like today! These are my type of recipes, it’s quick and rich in flavors.
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Love, love, love curries. I’ll have to look for some of that Lemongrass powder.
Toni Dash says
Me too Lea Ann. I think we both love the more dense, earthy flavors found in Southwestern and other ethnic cuisines! I love using Lemongrass powder. You can find it at Asian markets or Savory Spice Shop also carries it. It’s fun to work with.
Liz says
Thank you for the nice recipe.
Toni Dash says
You are so welcome Liz! I love a recipe that’s quick to whip up with such rich flavors too!
Cathy Morgan says
Whoa! Looks fabulous and I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for a perfect recipe for this frigid day. 🙂
Toni Dash says
Hi Cathy! I agree completely. After just being out with my car thermometer registering -1, I’m ready to whip up another batch right now! Happy Holidays!