Elbistan Soup (Elbistan çorbası)
Overview
Elbistan çorbası is a smooth, garlicky red lentil and rice soup from Elbistan, a district in the north of Kahramanmaraş province. Red lentils and a little rice are boiled together and skimmed. In a separate pot, onion and plenty of garlic are fried in butter and oil, then flour and tomato paste are stirred in to make a red base. Meat stock and water are whisked in until smooth, the cooked lentils and rice are added, and the soup is seasoned with black pepper, chilli flakes, cumin and dried mint. The rice gives it more body than a plain lentil soup, and the garlic makes it warming in the long Elbistan winters.
History
Elbistan sits on a high plain in the north of Kahramanmaraş, where winters are cold and grain and pulses fill the pantry. Lentil soups are made in every home there, and this version with rice and lots of garlic is known by the name of the town. The recipe is kept in the collection of local dishes of the Kahramanmaraş Education Foundation.
Main ingredients
Red lentils, rice, onion, garlic, tomato paste, butter. The soup is built on meat stock and water and is usually served hot. Diet: contains meat; not usually gluten-free.
Explore: Lentil soups · Tomato soups · Rice soups · More soups from Türkiye
Recipe
Method
- 120 min
Boil the lentils and rice in water for 20 minutes, skimming off the foam.
- 2
Fry the onion and garlic in the butter and oil, then stir in the flour and tomato paste.
- 3
Whisk in the stock and some hot water until smooth and bring to the boil.
- 410 min
Add the lentils and rice with their water, season and simmer for 10 minutes.
- ✓
Serve. About 50 min from start to bowl.
Sources
Description, history and recipe written by SoupWiki and checked against the sources above. Calories and times are rough estimates.
