Turkey bone broth made from the leftover turkey carcass or other bones. This healthy and easy broth makes the basis for countless soups, sauces, and gravies.
We really eat a lot of turkeys because we are able to buy the birds from farmers in the village. But what to do with the bones, it would be a shame to throw them all away? The simplest answer is to make stock or, even better, turkey bone broth.
Table of contents
What is bone broth?
The liquid is obtained by slowly simmering the bones, bits of meat, and connective tissues of animals for an extended period of time. It can be made from turkey bones, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, or game. I often use the bones of our Christmas duck or geese.
Broth versus stock
- Broths are made by boiling pieces of meat for a rather short time.
- Stocks are made by simmering the bones for a bit longer, usually for about 3-4 hours. I prefer making stocks as they are more flavorful and allow me to use the bones that I would not use for any other purpose anyway.
- Bone broth is made by cooking bones that still have bits of meat attached to them in water for a really long time, about 24 hours. The long cooking time extracts lots of nutrients from the bones. More collagen and amino nutrients are released into the liquid.
Recipe ingredients
Bones:
- You can use any bones you have to make the bone broth: chicken, turkey, duck, goose, beef, veal, lamb, pork, or a mixture of some of them.
- Use so-called “soup bones” and marrow bones, if available.
- Also, include some parts like knuckles, feet, or wings; these parts contain more cartilage.
Vegetables:
- They are optional, but I always add them to any bone broth or stock I make.
- I usually have celeriac or celery stalks, carrots, onion, garlic.
Spices: Salt, peppercorns, bay leaves, cider vinegar (or another vinegar), parsley.
Step-by-step instructions
- Roast the bones but only if they are fresh. Leftover carcasses or other bones from a roast don't have to be roasted again.
- Cook bone broth: Place all the ingredients in a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil. Turn down the heat immediately, and simmer the broth for 24 hours. Add more water if necessary, the bones and veggies should always be covered.
- Strain the liquid and discard all the solids. Strain again through a fine-mesh sieve or a clean cloth.
- Store in the fridge or freeze.
Expert tips
- I use turkey bones. They are either already roasted after making roasted turkey legs, for instance, or fresh. When it comes to the fresh parts, I use the neck, wings, and backbone.
- You can buy these parts at the butchers and make sure to include some parts like knuckles, feet, or wings, these are the parts that contain more cartilage, which contains a lot of collagen.
- You can also make it using the carcass of a Thanksgiving or Christmas bird, never throw that away. As mentioned above, I always use the Christmas goose or duck carcass.
- When using fresh bones it is recommendable to roast them first. Place the wings/neck/backbones on a baking tray and roast them in the oven for about 1 hour.
Recipe FAQ
Any kind of stock can turn cloudy. That is usually the result of boiling the stock instead of simmering it.
The secret is to never let it come to a boil, as that will cause the proteins to break into small particles, which will make the stock cloudy. You should also never stir it either.
However, apart from it being not as pretty anymore, the cloudy broth is just as delicious as the clear one, so don't worry about it, if you (like me) sometimes forget to turn the heat down to very low before it starts to boil.
It's what it is supposed to happen. Cooled bone broth turns into a very rich, dark jelly, which is incredibly deep-tasting and delicious.
The jelly will become liquid again when reheated.
Sieve through a large sieve to remove the bones, vegetables, and spices and through a finer sieve to remove the small impurities. Pour the liquid into large jars with lids or other containers. Let cool on the counter.
Refrigerate, once cool: it will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
Freeze it for a very long time, up to 1 year. It can be frozen in freezer containers, freezer bags, or cube trays. Freezing it in cubes will allow you to defrost smaller portions needed to enrich the taste of a soup or stew, to make sauces or gravies.
How to use it?
- The most obvious thing would be to make soups.
- I also use bone broth to make stews, sauces, or gravies.
Make these recipes with bone broth
- Vegetable Meatball Soup - Easy, quick, healthy, and delicious meatball soup recipe.
- Pork and Potato Stew - Even if this is a pork stew, you can still use this broth to make it.
- Cream of Turkey Soup - The perfect way of using the turkey's carcass and any leftover meat.
Turkey Bone Broth Recipe
Ingredients
- 4.5 lbs turkey bones or leftover turkey carcass See note
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 large carrots unpeeled, large chunks (See note)
- 1 large celeriac piece large chunks (or 4-5 celery sticks)
- 3 onions unpeeled, halved
- 1 garlic head unpeeled, halved horizontally
- a bunch of parsley stalks optional
- 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
- 3 bay leaves
- sea salt
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1 gallon water
Instructions
- Carcass: If using a turkey carcass, there is no need to roast it. In this case, skip the roasting step, place the carcass into the pot, add everything else and let simmer as the recipe requires.
- Roast bones: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Wash and dry the bones and place them on a large baking tray. Rub them well with the olive oil and roast them for 1 hour, turning once after half time.
- Cook: Place the bones and all other ingredients in a very large pan. Cover with water. Use more water if necessary to completely cover the bones and the veggies. Slowly bring to a boil, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 24 hours. Add more water if necessary so that the ingredients are always covered.
- After such a long cooking time, the bones should begin to crumble; that is a good thing, signifying that all the nutrients have been extracted.
- Strain and discard the bones and vegetables. Strain the bone broth again through a fine-mesh sieve or a clean cloth.
- Store: Place into jars or other containers (suitable for freezing if you want to freeze the bone broth).
Notes
- You can use any bones you have to make the bone broth: chicken, turkey, duck, goose, beef, veal, lamb, pork, or a mixture of some of them. Use so-called “soup bones” and marrow bones, if available. Also, include some parts like knuckles, feet, or wings; these parts contain more cartilage.
- The vegetables are optional, but I always add them to any bone broth or stock I make.
- The nutritional information is calculated for the whole batch of turkey bone broth. However, these calculations are only approximate.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I wish I had patience to make some bone broth! My brother used to make fish broth and it was absolutely delicious. Your meatball soup looks very tasty!
Adina says
Thank you, Angie. Fish stock coming tomorrow... 🙂
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
I have heard *so* many good things about bone broth - and now I know how to make it, thanks to you! 🙂
Adina says
I hope you make it, Kate, you will like it.
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
I can't imagine the level of flavor that comes from the bones! It has to be truly amazing. I love recipes that use up everything...this used to be the way it was done so many years ago. Nothing ever went to waste...even the bones. This sounds delicious.
Adina says
It was like that in my childhood as well, we didn't have as much as we have today, so nothing was ever wasted. There is so much good stuff in those bones, it is a shame to throw them away.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
I have heard so much about broths, but haven't tried making my own yet. And I think it needs to change now. 🙂 This looks super awesome and sounds fantastic, Adina! 🙂
Adina says
You should try it, Anu, they are much easier to make than one might think.
Summer says
This broth looks so warm and inviting ♥
summerdaisy.net
Adina says
Really good for this weather. 🙂
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
I keep hearing about how healthy bone broth is too. After reading your post, I feel like I need to try it. Health benefits aside, it does sound like it is so flavorful and such a great base to soups!
Adina says
The taste is amazing! I do hope you try it, I am sure you would love it.