Either 1 Turkey neck bone + 1 package turkey bones or wings, Or 2 turkey bone packages (bones + wings)
2 turkey drumsticks
Cold water to cover bones
6 fresh garlic cloves, sliced in half
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large Vidalia or Spanish onion, diced
4 medium zucchinis, skin on, roughly chopped
2 yellow squash, skin on, roughly chopped
Black pepper, to taste
More kosher salt, to taste
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, optional
Instructions
In a 6-quart pot add turkey bones and turkey thighs. Add cold water to cover bones by an inch.
Add garlic and salt. Bring liquid to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Skim any scum (white/brownish foam) that forms on the top of the pot with a slotted spoon or ladle. Allow broth to simmer for two hours until liquid is reduced to a third.
While broth is simmering, heat a frying pan. Add oil and swirl around the pan until the bottom of the pan is coated in oil. Add diced onions, and don’t stir to allow onions to buildup color (when you mix the pan too much you invite unwanted cold air into your pan which in turn ends up sweating your vegetables as opposed to sautéing). Allow onions to sauté for 2 minutes before stirring. Once the edges of the diced onions develop brown edges (super important for your onions to develop color, its a part of the flavor building for the soup), lower heat and allow onions to cook until translucent. Set aside.
Remove bones and thighs from the broth. Toss bones and set turkey thighs aside if you’d like to shred it up and add back to the soup (I personally find the meat more on the dry side, so I usually toss it).
Add chopped zucchini and squash to the pot along with half the sauteed onions. Cover soup with a lid, and allow soup to cook for 30 minutes, or until squash is tender but not overcooked (overcooked squash turns black, avoid that as it doesn’t make for a very appealing color).
Just before pureeing the soup add the remaining sauteed onions, and nutritional yeast if you choose (I love to add it, it adds a mock cheesy flavor that I find irresistible). Using a hand blender/immersion blender, puree the soup until all the vegetables are broken down and mostly smooth. Aim for a mostly smooth texture but not baby food status (if you over blend you will lose color and texture). Add black pepper. Taste for seasoning, add more salt, or pepper if necessary.
*To amp up the flavor, you can always roast the turkey bones under the high heat of the oven (400⁰F) before adding them to the water. If roasting, go for a lighter roast so the flavor blends well and doesn’t overpower the zucchini flavor.
Recipe by Between Carpools at https://betweencarpools.com/flavorful-zucchini-soup-with-turkey-broth/