Jewish Turkey-Wonton Soup

• Recipe by David Ansel

This soup is made with David Ansel's version of kreplach, a Jewish dumpling usually filled with beef. Here, Ansel tweaks the traditional recipe by stuffing delicate wonton wrappers with lots of turkey and chopped vegetables, serving them in a simple turkey broth.

Ingredients

1. 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2. Three 1-pound turkey legs
3. Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4. 6 cups water
5. 6 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
6. 2 garlic cloves
7. 2 celery ribs, 1 coarsely chopped, 1 finely diced
8. 1 large carrot, coarsely chopped
9. 1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
10. 1 bay leaf
11. 1 thyme sprig
12. 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
13. 1 small red onion, finely diced
14. 40 square wonton wrappers
15. 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill

Directions

1. In a soup pot, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season the turkey legs with salt and pepper, add them to the pot and cook over high heat until browned on all sides, about 7 minutes. Add the water, stock, garlic, chopped celery, carrot, yellow onion, bay leaf, thyme sprig and peppercorns and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over moderately low heat until the turkey legs are tender and the meat pulls away from the bone, about 1 hour.
2. Transfer the turkey legs to a large plate and let cool slightly. Pull the meat off the bones and coarsely chop it; discard the skin. Return the bones to the pot and simmer the turkey stock for 1 hour longer.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the diced celery and red onion and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 5 minutes; transfer to a food processor. Add the turkey, season with salt and pepper and pulse until the turkey is finely chopped.
4. On a work surface, lay out 10 wonton wrappers. Scoop 1 tablespoon of the turkey filling into the center of each wrapper. Moisten the edges of the wrapper with water and fold it in half on the diagonal, creating a triangle; press the edges to seal. Transfer the wonton to a baking sheet and keep covered with a damp cloth. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling.
5. Strain the turkey stock into another pot and skim the fat from the surface. Season with salt and pepper and bring the stock to a simmer. Add the wonton, cover and cook until the wrappers are just tender, about 5 minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with the dill and serve.