Turtle Soup

Name: Turtle Soup
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 2 h 15 min
Total time: 2 h 40 min
Yield: 4-6 servings.
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

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

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. 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.

Originally published as Turtle Soup in Taste of Home April/May 1995

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Ziss

Feb 4, 2010

We haven't had turtle soup for years. After printing this recipe, my husband made it & found it was simple to make. We didn't have tomato puree so substituted tomato sauce which worked fine. The lemon juice offsets the sweetness of the turtle. We liked it.
ehlertn

Oct 2, 2009

Where can I get turtle meat?