Spas (Սպաս)
Overview
Spas is an Armenian yogurt soup made with matzoon, the country's traditional cultured milk, and hulled wheat. The yogurt is stabilised with egg and flour so it can be heated without splitting, then simmered with the cooked wheat. Butter with fried onion and dried mint or fresh coriander is stirred in at the end. It is creamy and tangy and can be eaten hot in winter or chilled in summer. It is a common dish in Armenian homes and is gentle enough for anyone feeling unwell.
History
Matzoon and wheat have been staples of the Armenian Highlands for thousands of years, so yogurt soups like spas are deeply rooted in local cooking. It is closely related to the yogurt soups of Türkiye, Iran and the Caucasus, such as toyga and dovga. Each family has its own recipe, especially for the herbs used.
Main ingredients
Matzoon (yogurt), hulled wheat, egg, butter, onion, mint or coriander. The soup is built on yogurt and is usually served hot. Diet: vegetarian; not usually gluten-free.
Explore: Yogurt soups · Egg soups · Barley and grains soups · Mint soups · More soups from Armenia
Recipe
Method
- 1
Whisk yogurt with egg, flour and water until smooth.
- 2
Bring slowly to the boil, stirring constantly in one direction.
- 310 min
Add the cooked wheat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- 4
Fry onion in butter with mint and stir in; serve hot or chilled.
- ✓
Serve. About 55 min from start to bowl.
Pictures
Sources
Description, history and recipe written by SoupWiki and checked against the sources above. Calories and times are rough estimates.
