Kurban Chorba (Курбан чорба (Kurban chorba))

Overview

Kurban chorba is a Bulgarian lamb soup. Pieces of lamb, often from the neck, shoulder and breast, are simmered slowly with whole onions, carrots and peppercorns until the meat is falling off the bone. The meat is then taken out, cut into small pieces and returned to the strained broth with a handful of rice, chopped spring onions and a spoonful of sweet paprika fried in butter. Dried mint, called dzhodzhen, and summer savory give it its typical aroma. Before serving, the soup is thickened with a mixture of egg yolks and yogurt or lemon juice, stirred in slowly so that it stays smooth and creamy.

History

Kurban is the old Bulgarian custom of a sacrificial meal, in which a lamb is slaughtered and cooked in big cauldrons in the churchyard or village square and shared by everyone. It is held on saints' days such as St George's Day on 6 May and St Demetrius' Day, and for family vows and the consecration of a new house. The soup made from that lamb, kurban chorba, is given to neighbours, guests and the poor.

Main ingredients

Lamb, onion, rice, paprika, mint, egg yolks. The soup is built on lamb broth with rice and is usually served hot. Diet: contains meat; usually gluten-free.

Explore: Lamb soups · Rice soups · Egg soups · Mint soups · More soups from Bulgaria

Recipe

4Serves

2h 20m20 prep · 120 cook

~380kcal / serving

MediumDifficulty

Method

1. 1
   2 h

   Simmer the lamb with the onions, carrot and peppercorns in 3 l salted water for about 2 hours, skimming well.

2. 2

   Take out the meat, strip it from the bones, cut it into pieces and strain the broth.

3. 3
   15 min

   Return the meat to the broth with the rice and spring onions and cook for 15 minutes.

4. 4

   Stir in the paprika butter, mint and savory.

5. 5

   Off the heat, whisk the egg yolks with the yogurt and a ladle of hot broth, stir into the soup and serve.

6. ✓

   Serve. About 2h 20m from start to bowl.

Sources

• %D0%9A%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD %D1%87%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B1%D0%B0 (Wikipedia)
• Bulgarian cuisine (Wikipedia)

Description, history and recipe written by SoupWiki and checked against the sources above. Calories and times are rough estimates.