Romanian Sour Soup (Ciorbă)
This hearty Romanian sour soup is tangy, creamy, and bursting with fresh vegetable flavors. Perfect for any meal!
- Total Time: 55 minutes
Ingredients
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- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, grated or finely diced
- 1 parsnip, grated or finely diced
- 1 small celery root (or 2 stalks of celery), diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and diced (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes)
- 1.5 liters (6 cups) chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup rice, rinsed
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup vinegar (or to taste)
- 1 bunch fresh dill, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 200g (7 oz) cooked or smoked meat (e.g., chicken, pork, or sausage)
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, parsnip, celery, and red bell pepper. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 7-8 minutes.
- Add Broth and Rice: Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then add the rice. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rice is tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Add Tomatoes and Meat (Optional): Stir in the diced tomatoes and cooked or smoked meat, if using. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
- Prepare the Sour Cream Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together the sour cream and egg yolks. Gradually add a ladle of hot soup to the mixture, whisking continuously to temper the sour cream and prevent curdling.
- Add Sour Cream Mixture and Vinegar: Slowly pour the sour cream mixture back into the soup, stirring constantly. Add vinegar to taste, adjusting the level of sourness.
- Season and Finish: Add salt, black pepper, and chopped dill. Let the soup simmer for another 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with additional dill if desired.
Notes
- Vinegar Substitute: You can replace vinegar with lemon juice or fermented bran juice (borș) for a traditional flavor.
- Vegetarian Option: Omit the meat and use vegetable broth for a meat-free version.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve with crusty bread or a side of polenta.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 40
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