Lihakeitto (Lihakeitto)
Overview
Lihakeitto is the Finnish meat soup. Chunks of beef, often a cheap cut on the bone such as shin or brisket, are put in cold water, brought slowly to the boil and skimmed carefully so that the broth stays clear. Whole allspice berries, black peppercorns, a bay leaf and onion are added, and the meat is simmered for about an hour and a half until tender. Large pieces of potato, carrot, swede and sometimes celeriac or parsnip are then cooked in the broth. The soup is seasoned only with salt and finished with chopped parsley or dill. It is simple, hearty and clean-tasting, and eaten with rye bread and butter.
History
Lihakeitto is one of the best-known dishes of everyday Finnish home cooking, and generations of Finns know it from school canteens, army kitchens and family dinners. It was a practical meal on farms, where a large pot could feed many people and the broth was made from the cheapest cuts. Allspice is the typical spice of traditional Finnish cooking and gives the soup its familiar aroma.
Main ingredients
Beef, potatoes, carrot, swede, onion, allspice. The soup is built on clear beef broth and is usually served hot. Diet: contains meat; usually gluten-free.
Explore: Beef soups · Potato soups · More soups from Finland
Recipe
Method
- 1
Put the beef in a pot with 2.5 l cold water and bring slowly to the boil, skimming well.
- 21 h 30 min
Add the onion, allspice, peppercorns and bay leaves and simmer gently for 1 hour 30 minutes.
- 310 min
Add the swede and carrots and cook for 10 minutes.
- 420 min
Add the potatoes and cook for 20 minutes more, until tender.
- 5
Season with salt and serve with parsley or dill and rye bread.
- ✓
Serve. About 2h 20m from start to bowl.
Sources
Description, history and recipe written by SoupWiki and checked against the sources above. Calories and times are rough estimates.
