Turkey Rice Soup Recipe – Oma's Puten-Reis Suppe
by: Gerhild Fulson / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.
Easy Turkey Rice or Barley Soup made from your leftover turkey carcass. This is such a warming meal that would be perfect for a cold winter's night. Perhaps some artisan bread on the side?
Making this turkey rice soup recipe, aka Puten-Reis Suppe, is so easy and economical when you have a turkey carcass.
It's a homemade soup will satisfy even those who think they've had enough turkey after the holiday bird has been demolished. You can make this soup thick or broth-y.
Add whatever vegetables you have in the fridge. Have some extra turkey gravy? Add it as well. Turkey Rice Soup ... any which way you like!
How to Deal With That Turkey Carcass:
Don't toss that carcass. Make dinner instead!
Need a quick way to clean up after that turkey dinner? Especially after a party, I don't like dealing with the leftover turkey carcass. That's where the slow cooker comes in. I can set it and forget it. Here's what to do:
- Quickly remove large pieces of turkey meat into plastic bags and refrigerate.
- Put carcass into slow cooker.
- Cover with water.
- Add about 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper.
- If time, add
onion, carrots, and celery.
- Cover and put on "low".
- Leave at least 12
hours, or overnight, and use broth as below.
I once left the turkey carcass in the slow cooker for 48 hours. The bones fell apart! The broth was the richest tasting broth ever and made the BEST turkey rice soup recipe! Wunderbar!
Leftover turkey soup? Add a can of diced tomatoes when reheating and re-season. A completely "new" soup that doesn't taste like leftovers.
From Oma's heart to your table
Complete your set today - order now!
How to Cook Barley ...
I'm frequently asked how to use barley in cooking. Below, I find this a simple way to include barley in soups. It cooks quicker than rice, but provides the starch component that makes this soup so filling.
Nothing fancy is used. Open bag, measure, and add. Simmer. Enjoy!
Ready to make this turkey rice soup?
Turkey Rice Soup Recipe – Oma's Puten-Reis Suppe
Making this turkey rice soup recipe, aka Puten-Reis Suppe, is so easy and economical when you have a turkey carcass.
It's a homemade soup will satisfy even those who think they've had enough turkey after the holiday bird has been demolished. You can make this soup thick or broth-y.
Prep Time:
30 minutes
Cook Time:
1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time:
2 hours
Servings:
Makes 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 turkey carcass
-
1 onion, coarsely
chopped
-
3 - 4 carrots, peeled &
cut into chunks
-
2 - 3 celery ribs, cut into
chunks
-
1 tablespoon (9 grams) VEGETA
food seasoning (see
Oma’s Hints)
-
1 cup (190 grams) long grain
rice, white or brown
-
2 cups (500 grams) chopped
assorted vegetables
-
salt and freshly ground
black pepper, to taste
-
MAGGI liquid
seasoning, to taste
-
chopped fresh parsley,
to garnish
Instructions:
-
Break the turkey carcass apart and place it, along with the
skin and pan drippings, into a large soup pot and cover with
water.
-
Add the onions, carrots, celery, and VEGETA. Bring to a boil.
-
Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer at least 1 hour.
-
Strain the broth into another large pot or bowl, using a sieve
to catch all the little bones and stuff. Skim off any fat.
-
Measure 8 cups (1.9 liters) of the strained broth and pour it
into a large soup pot. If you don’t have enough broth, add
water to make up the difference. (You can dissolve some
chicken bouillon in the water, if desired.)
-
Add the rice and assorted vegetables and bring to a boil.
-
Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes for white
rice, or 45 minutes for brown rice.
-
While the soup is cooking, remove any meat from the bones
and add it to the soup.
- Season with salt, pepper, and MAGGI.
-
Sprinkle with parsley to serve.
Notes/Hints:
- Cut into chunks and add about 2 cups assorted vegetables such as: carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
- Add 1 to 2 tablespoons dried parsley to soup.
- If you like a broth-y soup, add only about ¾ cup rice. OR, you can thin the finished soup with extra chicken broth.
- This soup will thicken once it cools. You will need to be careful when reheating - stir constantly and/or add extra broth or water. You can also add a can of diced tomatoes as shown above, to the leftover soup. It will thin the soup and give another "turkey rice soup recipe" that's different from the original recipe for turkey soup.
- If you have leftover turkey meat, you can add it to the soup as well.
* * * * *
Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com
Updated: March 15, 2026

Follow Oma on Social Media:
Comments? Questions?
You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...
Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods.
Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.
-
Apr 05, 26 06:03 PM
Love pickles? This easy dill pickle soup recipe, or Dillgurkensuppe, is quick and packed with pickle flavor, ham, and tender potatoes. It's sure to be your new go-to!
Read More
-
Mar 15, 26 12:03 PM
Make homemade rhubarb syrup with this easy German Rhabarbersirup recipe. Just 3 ingredients and a delicious way to use fresh rhubarb. And you also get rhubarb butter!
Read More
-
Mar 07, 26 09:03 PM
German potato dumplings (kartoffelklöße) are a family favorite, the perfect side to almost any meal. I’ll show you exactly how I make them.
Read More
Words to the Wise
"Stay away from fools, for you won't find knowledge on their lips."
Proverbs 14:7 (NLT)