Roast Turkey Vegetable Soup with Rice

To make the stock, with your hands, break the carcass into big pieces and place them in a large stockpot with water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, skimming off any foam that forms on the surface. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for about 1 hour, skimming as needed. Add the onion, carrots, celery, parsley, thyme and bay leaf. Cover partially and continue to simmer for about 1 1/2 hours more.

Line a chinois or other fine-mesh sieve with damp cheesecloth, pour the stock through the sieve into a large saucepan and return to high heat. Bring to a boil, adjust the heat to maintain a gentle boil and cook, uncovered, skimming if needed, until reduced to about 8 cups, about 1 hour. Remove from the heat and refrigerate, uncovered, until chilled, about 6 hours, then lift off and discard the fat solidified on top.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm 2 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the onion, carrot and celery and sauté, stirring often, until the onion is tender and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the rice and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rice is tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm the remaining 3 Tbs. oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté, stirring often, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.

Bring a saucepan three-fourths full of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat, add the broccoli florets and cook until tender but not falling apart, about 5 minutes. Drain, immerse in cold water to stop the cooking, drain again and set aside.

Add the turkey, mushrooms, broccoli and thyme to the saucepan and continue to cook until all the ingredients are heated through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and sprinkle with the parsley or cheese. Serves 6 to 8.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Lifestyles Series, Soup for Supper, by Joyce Goldstein (Time-Life Books, 1998).