A Deliciously Tasty Lagman Soup Recipe
If you have never had the chance to try out this deliciously tasty Lagman soup recipe before, this is the perfect chance to learn everything that you need to know. It’s a hearty soup that is chock full of all sorts of tasty vegetables, which are paired with an aromatic broth. It is served with noodles and first rose to prominence in Uzbekistan.
From there, its popularity expanded to a wide range of other Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. There are an assortment of soups out there that many of us have had the chance to try but this is nothing quite like Lagman soup. To learn more about this soup and how it can serve as a worthy addition to your at-home menu, please be sure to read on….
What Kind of Vegetables Are Used For Lagman Soup?
While we are more than happy to provide a specific list of vegetables that are meant to be used in a Lagman soup recipe below, there are a number of other vegetables that can be utilized. If you take the time to look at more than one recipe, you will find that there are plentiful options in this regard. For example, there are some who always choose to use carrots, potatoes, bell pepper, tomatoes and rutabaga.
This is perfectly fine and in some cases, the rutabaga merely serves as a viable substitute for root vegetables that may not be easy to find in your particular region. That’s why you may see recipes (such as this one) where daikon, turnips or radishes are swapped out for the rutabaga. This decision will also depend on whether you prefer a sweeter soup.
Lagman soup that is made with rutabaga is typically going to be much sweeter than Lagman which has been made with radishes or turnips. Eggplant, celery and other vegetables will also work fine, as this is not a very strict recipe. Star anise and coriander seeds can be used as a means of flavoring the broth as well. Some may prefer added broth, while others would rather enjoy a drier soup.
Prep Time + Cooking Time
This soup may require a bit more prep time and cooking time than others, but it is still very easy to put together. If you follow this recipe, you should have four servings to share and the prep time is short. You will be able to complete that aspect within 15 minutes. Cooking time, on the other hand, will take roughly an hour and 40 minutes.
Ingredients
- Lamb or beef (1/2 pound)
- Vegetable oil (2 tablespoons)
- Black pepper (2 tablespoons)
- Tomato paste (2 tablespoons)
- Small potatoes (3 should be used + they need to be cubed)
- Onion (1, sliced)
- Carrot (1, sliced)
- Turnip (1 medium, diced)
- Garlic cloves (4, sliced)
- Beef broth (1 quart)
- Rice (1/8 cup or you can use white vinegar, adding more as taste dictates)
- Bell pepper (1)
- Thinly sliced celery (1/2 cup)
- Finely chopped parsley (1/2 cup)
- Salt (2 teaspoons)
- Water (8 cups)
- Noodles (8 ounces)
Step-by-Step Directions
- To get started, you will need to chop up all of the aforementioned vegetables. The size that you chop them up into will depend on personal preference. There is truly no right or wrong way to go about this task, you simply need to decide based on your own whims.
- From there, it is time to start cutting up all of your meat. For best results, you will want to make sure that you are cutting all of the meat up into cubic slices. Otherwise, the Lagman soup recipe may not come out as you planned.
- Grab a large pot because now it is time to heat up the oil. The oven will need to be turned onto high heat for this part. Once this step is underway, add your onions. Saute them for at least 3 to 5 minutes before proceeding. You will want to make sure that they are golden as well.
- Add your meat and give it a chance to cook. Allow it to brown before moving onto the next step.
- Grab your garlic and your tomato paste. At this time, you will be stirring them into the mixture. Once the garlic and tomato paste have been added, allow the mixture to cook for at least 2 to 3 minutes.
- This is when all of those veggies that you chopped up are added to the mix. This includes the carrots, potatoes, celery, turnips and peppers. This is a step that may take a few minutes, as you will need to let the vegetables cook for a decent amount of time.
- The seasonings, beef broth and water are all going to be poured into the soup now.
- The rice or white vinegar can be added to the soup now. However, there are some who may prefer a soup that is less sour and as a result, they could opt against these items. If so, there is no harm in withholding them from the final recipe. The Lagman soup recipe happens to be very versatile in that way. If you prefer a sweeter soup, leave the rice or white vinegar out of it.
- Reduce the heat that the pot is cooking over to low. Let the soup simmer for at least 40 minutes for best results. You will know that it is time to move onto the next step when the vegetables have had ample opportunity to become more tender. Have all of the flavors had the chance to come together? If so, this means that you are ready to complete the final steps.
- Once the soup has begun to simmer, be sure to start cooking noodles in a different pot. A large pot of lightly salted water must be brought to a boil before continuing.
- 8 ounces of your favorite noodles or pasta should be used for this part of the process. Drain the pot and from there, you are able to quickly prepare the noodles that are going to be served with your Lagman soup recipe.
Serving Tips
When it is time to serve up the Lagman soup recipe, grab some deep bowls and fill them with your cooked noodles. From there, it is time to add the soup itself. Meanwhile, there are others who will want a soup that is filled with lots of broth, as opposed to those who prefer a drier soup. This is a decision that is entirely up to you. Once the soup has been mixed with the noodles, you are good to go. Enjoy your tasty dish!