Turtle Soup

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Cook: 2-1/4 hours

Makes

6 servings

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
This hearty soup has a real "snappy" flavor from the cayenne pepper and lemon juice. It's a treat and good use of turtle meat. With a salad and fresh bread, a steaming bowlful makes a nice meal. -Dave Wood, Elmwood Park, New Jersey

Ingredients

  • 1-1/3 pounds turtle meat
  • 4-1/2 cups water
  • 2 medium onions
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons salt
  • 5 tablespoons butter, cubed
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons tomato puree
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth
  • 2 hard-boiled large eggs, chopped
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • Chopped fresh parsley, optional

Directions

  1. In a heavy 4-qt. saucepan, bring turtle meat and water to a boil. Skim off foam. Chop 1 onion and set aside. Quarter the other onion; add to saucepan along with bay leaf, cayenne pepper and salt. Cover and simmer for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Remove meat with a slotted spoon and cut into 1/2-in. cubes; set aside. Strain broth and set aside. Rinse and dry saucepan; melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook chopped onion until tender. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly and lightly browned. Whisk in reserved broth; cook and stir until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Add chicken broth, eggs, lemon juice and meat. Simmer for 5 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 325 calories, 18g fat (8g saturated fat), 156mg cholesterol, 898mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 27g protein.