Mock Turtle Soup is a hearty, comforting dish made with ground beef, ginger snaps, and bold spices. This nostalgic recipe delivers sweet and savory depth, perfect for cozy dinners or make-ahead meals.
Ingredients
Scale
1½ pounds ground beef (90/10 preferred)
3 ounces ginger snaps (about 10–12 cookies)
½ medium onion, finely chopped or grated
1 cup ketchup
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
5–6 thin lemon slices (seeds removed)
3 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
1 tablespoon sherry wine (optional)
Kosher salt, to taste
4 to 6 cups of water
Instructions
Heat a 4-quart soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground beef and brown thoroughly, breaking into fine crumbles.
Place ginger snaps in a heatproof bowl and cover with 2 cups of hot water. Let soak while beef cooks.
If necessary, drain excess fat from the beef. Add chopped or grated onion and stir well.
Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper to the pot. Stir to combine.
Pour in the ginger snaps along with their soaking liquid. Mix thoroughly. The mixture will be thick.
Gradually add 4 to 6 cups of water, one cup at a time, until desired soup-like consistency is reached.
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low-medium to maintain a soft simmer.
Lay lemon slices over the top, partially cover, and simmer for 1 to 2 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.
Remove and discard the lemon slices. Stir in sherry wine and chopped hard-boiled eggs.
Season with kosher salt to taste. Adjust flavor with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar if needed.
Notes
You can replace half the ground beef with ground turkey for a lighter version.
Traditionally, the meat was boiled instead of browned—feel free to try this method.
Letting the soup rest overnight enhances the flavor even more.
For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free ginger snaps and check labels on sauces.
Add a splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar if the soup is too sweet.
