Turtle soup is a fairly hearty dish and is very popular in some countries where fresh turtle meat can be found easily. This soup is best prepared with lots of different herbs and tomatoes.
Buying meat
Choosing the right meat is very important for making turtle soup. If you have the opportunity to buy fresh turtle meat, do just that. If not, the meat can also be purchased frozen. In any case, use the services of trusted suppliers and sellers only. Improperly processed turtle meat can contain toxic substances.
Cooking ingredients
Bring the turtle meat to room temperature. If frozen, thaw it slowly in the refrigerator compartment. Chop herbs and vegetables, you will need: 1/3 cup chopped shallots, 1/2 cup celery, 1/2 cup sweet pepper, 2 tablespoons garlic, 1 bunch of parsley and the same amount of green onions. Boil 4 eggs for 10 minutes, chop and set aside. Squeeze out ¼ glass of lemon juice.
Boiling meat
Place the meat in a large saucepan and pour 6 cups of water into it. Add 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, cover the pot and heat over high. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and leave to simmer. Continue this process for 20 minutes, stirring the meat constantly. Put the finished meat in a separate plate, after it has cooled, cut it into small cubes and set aside. Do not drain the water from the pan, pour it into a bowl, you will need it later.
Assembling the soup
Melt 250 g butter in a large saucepan over high heat. Gradually add ½ cup flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until golden brown. This process can take about 5 minutes. The mixture prepared in this way will serve as the base for the soup. Add chopped onions, celery and bell peppers.
Continue simmering for about 5 minutes, until the onions are translucent. Add ½ spoonful of chopped thyme, 3 bay leaves, and cooked garlic. Cook for another 2 minutes. Add 2 small tomatoes and chopped turtle meat and cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Now fill this mixture with the broth left over from cooking the meat, add the lemon juice, ½ cup dry Sherry and ½ cup Worcester sauce. Simmer it all over low heat for 10 minutes.
Innings
Pour the prepared soup into bowls. Add boiled and chopped eggs to it. Chopped herbs (parsley, green onions, etc.) can be served in a separate bowl. Steamed rice works very well as a side dish.
