Leftover turkey simmered in the flavors of Greek cooking for a traditional Greek Turkey Avgolemono Soup, from an American Thanksgiving meal.
Greek Turkey Avgolemono Soup – A Mediterranean Twist On Leftover Turkey
When Thanksgiving is over and the fridge is filled with leftover turkey, one of the best ways to enjoy it is in a comforting, nourishing soup.
This Greek Turkey Avgolemono Soup transforms classic American holiday leftovers into a Mediterranean-inspired dish bursting with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs.
Soup Is Worldly Comfort Food
Nothing incorporates healthy veggies and herbs, nutritional bone broth and comfort food, better than soup.
For some reason it seems odd to eat soup in summer, unless it is a Greek Cold Cucumber Soup, just as it is not as welcoming a thought to eat salad in the cold of winter, unless it is an Winter Root Salad.
However, when I create and share my recipes, I know friends from around the world are reading them here and so who am I to say when to eat hot or cold, lol!
Hearty Healthy Turkey Soup
Homemade broth, with the boiling of any meat or seafood bones, along with a huge bundle of fresh and dried herbs, is something that can be done once a month and stored in the freezer.
Homemade broth is also the perfect solution to that heap of bones left over from Thanksgiving turkey.
You’d be surprised how much tender meat falls off the bones when boiled, meat we often miss when slicing.
Greek Soup
While soup is a hearty go-to in the winter here in America, let’s borrow the flavors of traditional Greek cooking, where it’s warm year-round.
A favorite sauce or soup broth, with the addition of egg, lemon, and oregano, known as Avgolemono, makes this a memorable turkey soup!
Greeks have a way of imparting so much flavor in the simplest of dishes, simply by bringing lots of lemon, garlic and oregano into the sauce, broth or rub.
If you’ve already boiled the bones of your leftover turkey, simply sauté onions, celery, fresh dill or oregano in a little olive oil along with some lemon zest. Add that to your broth and the base is done.
Avgolemono will get made just before the soup is finished simmering and the egg-lemon sauce will bring a Greek ‘opa’ to your turkey soup.
What Is Greek Avgolemono?
Avgolemono (pronounced ahv-go-LEH-mono) is one of the most beloved sauces in Greek cuisine and used in a variety of ways.
The name comes from two key ingredients: avgo (egg), and lemono (lemon). Together, they create a velvety, creamy broth without the need for cream or dairy.
The magic happens by whisking whole eggs, or egg yolks (for a deeper creamy texture), with fresh lemon juice. The egg-lemon mixture is slowly tempered by mixing the hot broth in, a little at a time.
This sauce is known most often as a Greek sauce (maybe because there are so many Greek restaurants in America), but it is just as widely made in Middle Eastern, Turkish and some Jewish cuisines as well.
Turkey Soup In Winter
What’s the first soup that comes to mind when thinking about a winter soup, turkey? I know that is my first thought.
Maybe because I associate whole turkey cooking, or at least turkey parts with the holidays celebrated in November and December.
If you are anything like me, you have a huge stash of turkey broth in your freezer by January and plan on making soup for the remainder of winter.
While turkey meat, particularly the gelatin that is formed from boiling the bones, is loaded with protein and the amino acid tryptophan, it also contains zinc which is exactly what we need during cold and flu season.
How To Make Greek Turkey Avgolemono Soup
Chop mushrooms or any other veggies you prefer in the soup. You may also have lots of leftover veggies from Day-After Thanksgiving, to toss into this soup.
The rest is fast and easy:
- Prepare the broth – If you’ve simmered your leftover turkey bones, strain the broth and set aside. Otherwise, substitute chicken stock.
- Sauté aromatics – In olive oil, cook onions, garlic, and mushrooms until softened and fragrant.
- Simmer with turkey and rice – Stir in shredded turkey, cooked rice, and broth. Let the flavors meld on low heat.
- Make the avgolemono sauce – In a bowl, whisk eggs with lemon juice. Slowly add hot broth while whisking to temper the eggs.
- Finish the soup – Stir the egg-lemon mixture back into the pot on low heat. Add fresh spinach and oregano, then adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve with love – Garnish with extra lemon wedges, fresh dill, or a drizzle of olive oil.
Why You’ll Love This Greek Turkey Soup
- Healthy and hearty – Packed with protein, zinc, and amino acids from turkey and bone broth.
- Immune-boosting – Fresh lemon, garlic, and oregano add antioxidants and flavor.
- Mediterranean-inspired – A refreshing break from heavier cream-based turkey soups.
- Perfect for winter – Cozy, warm, and nourishing for chilly nights.
Ingredients Needed
- Turkey broth – Made from simmering leftover turkey bones for rich flavor.
- Cooked rice – Traditionally white rice, though you can use orzo for a variation.
- Cooked turkey – Shredded or chopped, from Thanksgiving leftovers or purchase turkey thighs or breasts to make this soup anyway.
- Mushrooms – Optional, but adds earthy depth.
- Raw spinach – Fresh and vibrant, stirred in at the end.
- Lemon juice and zest – The heart of Greek flavor.
- Eggs – For the creamy avgolemono sauce.
- Fresh oregano or dill – Adds Mediterranean fragrance and flavor.
- Salt and pepper – Season to taste.
Equipment Needed
- Soup pot with a lid – I prefer a cast iron pot for soups and stews.
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Garlic press
- Ladle – this one is a professional grade in 3 sizes.
- Citrus juicer – best way to get every last drop of juice, without the seeds.
- Small saucepan
- Stovetop or burner
More Greek Flavors To Love
The similarities between Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine are deliciously apparent throughout many regions of the Mediterranean.
Here in America, you will often find of fusion of these cultures, particularly with the Eastern Orthodox conext; which is what I grew up surrounded by. The music, dances, traditions and foods were often similar.
And so I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite Greek flavors:
- Greek Spanakopita Burger – with lean ground beef or lamb, spinach and feta makes for the best burgers, especially on a homemade bun!
- Greek Cucumber Yogurt Tzatziki Sauce – a refreshing, versatile use of yogurt, cucumber, fresh herbs and garlic you will ever taste!
- Mediterranean Baklawa/ Greek Baklava – layers of phyllo pastry with nuts and honey are as richly steeped in history as they are honey.
- Greek Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps – is everyone’s favorite Greek salad, with herb simmered chicken chunks, served in a lettuce wrap.
- Healthier Spanakopita – made with olive oil, instead of butter, makes this fresh spinach, lemon and feta phyllo pastry, healthier.
GREEK Turkey Avgolemono Soup
Equipment
- Large Soup Pot
- Medium mixing bowl and whisk
Ingredients
- 3 cups Turkey broth – 3 cups, preferably homemade homemade
- 2 cups Cooked rice black, brown or white
- 2-3 cups Cooked turkey cubed
- 1 Medium Onion finely chopped
- 2 cups Mushrooms rough chopped
- 3 Garlic cloves crushed
- 1 lb Raw spinach or kale
- 1/4 cup Lemon juice
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Fresh oregano bundle or 2 tbsp dried
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring the broth to a simmer in a large soup pot, about 20-minutes.
- Add garlic and mushrooms, and simmer just until mushrooms are soft.
- Add cooked rice, cooked turkey and taste for salt and pepper.
- In a medium size bowl, whisk eggs and lemon juice until frothy.
- Gently ladle in a little hot broth, while whisking. Two or three ladles of hot broth should temper the eggs.
- Slowly add the egg mixture to the soup, while stirring. Add the spinach and oregano and simmer (not boil) for five minutes.
- Remove oregano bundle and serve.
Video
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.