Content

• Ingredients
• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Ingredients
• Part 2 of 3: Cooking Meat
• Part 3 of 3: Making the Soup
• Tips
• Warnings

Turtle soup is a favorite dish in the southeastern United States, where fresh turtles are not hard to find. Tough meats are best paired with a rich tomato base with lots of aromatic herbs and spices. If you've never tried this before and find it delicious, it's as easy as making chicken soup and the deep, plentiful flavor will be unforgettable. See Step 1 to get started.

Ingredients

• 680 grams of turtle meat
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 6 glasses of water
• 225 grams of butter (1 stick)
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 large white onion
• 1 large shallots
• 1 red pepper
• 1 stalk of celery
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 2 tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup dry sherry
• 1 bunch of parsley
• 3 green onions
• 4 eggs

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Ingredients

1. 1 Buy high quality turtle meat. The quality of the meat actually makes a big difference, so start by buying high quality turtle meat from a source you trust. You can find it fresh at your local market, but if you are in an area where turtles are not usually eaten, you can buy the turtle meat frozen and shipped to you. Be sure to do some research to make sure you get it from a reputable company.
   • Turtle meat that is not supplied properly can contain toxic metals and other substances that are harmful to your health.
2. 2 Leave it at room temperature before you start cooking. If your meat is frozen, thaw it slowly in the refrigerator. Place the meat on the counter at room temperature for 1/2 hour before you are ready to cook. This will ensure that the meat cooks evenly and heats up properly throughout the entire cooking process.
3. 3 Chop vegetables. Turtle soup is prepared with many different vegetables that flavor the base of the soup. Prepare the vegetables while the meat thaws and comes to room temperature.
   • Peel and chop the onion. You will need about 1 1/2 cups in total.
   • Peel and chop the shallots. You will need about 1/3 cup.
   • Chop the peppers and measure out 1/2 cup.
   • Chop the celery and measure out 1/2 cup.
   • Peel and chop the garlic and measure out 2 tablespoons.
   • Chop the parsley and chives - you will need them later to serve as a side dish.
4. 4 Boil the eggs. Hard-boiled eggs are a traditional side dish for turtle soup. Place the eggs in a saucepan and cover them with cold water. Bring water to a boil, then cover the saucepan and remove from heat. Let the eggs simmer in hot water for 10 minutes, then place them under cold water and peel. Slice the eggs and set them aside.
5. 5 Squeeze out the lemon juice. Cut a fresh lemon into quarters and squeeze out the juice. Measure out 1/4 cup of the juice and set it aside to add to your soup later.

Part 2 of 3: Cooking Meat

1. 1 Place the meat and seasonings in a pot of water. Add the meat, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 6 cups water to a large saucepan. Cover the pot with a lid and place on the stove over high heat.
   • Turtle meat must be thoroughly cooked before using it in soup. Adding undercooked meat to soup can allow potentially dangerous bacteria to survive.
2. 2 Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Simmer in boiling water and stir for 20 minutes while the meat cooks. Use a spoon to scoop up the foam that will rise to the top.
3. 3 Remove the meat onto a plate. Drain the water into a bowl (do not empty it) and place the meat on a plate. Let it cool for a few minutes before handling it. Save the liquid for later - you'll need it to flavor the soup.
4. 4 Cut the meat into cubes. Use a sharp knife to cut the meat into small cubes. Since turtle meat tends to be tough, make sure the chunks are small enough to chew comfortably. Set the meat dish aside.

Part 3 of 3: Making the Soup

1. 1 Fry the flour in oil. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until thick and golden brown, about 5 minutes. This is the dressing, the base of the soup, which will give it a velvety texture.
2. 2 Add chopped vegetables. Add chopped onions, shallots, red peppers, and celery to the dressing. Stir the mixture every few minutes and cook until the vegetables are soft and the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. 3 Add herbs. Toss in bay leaves, garlic, and thyme. Continue stirring and cook the mixture for another 2 minutes.
4. 4 Add tomatoes and turtle meat. Blend everything together and, stirring occasionally, cook for another 3 minutes as the tomatoes boil down.
5. 5 Add spices, liquids and broth. Pour in the turtle broth left over from cooking the meat. Add the remaining salt and cayenne pepper. Add lemon juice, sherry, and Worcestershire sauce. Adjust the temperature so that the soup is simmering and cook for another 10 minutes.
6. 6 Garnish the soup and serve. Pour the turtle soup into bowls and serve with chopped eggs, parsley and green onions. It's delicious with a bowl of rice.

Tips

• This dish goes well with fresh, crunchy bread.

Warnings

• Make sure the turtle meat is clean and make sure it is completely cooked to avoid salmonella.
• Since many species of turtles are endangered, it is important that you buy meat from a source that legally catches them.