A Deliciously Tasty Turkish Tarhana Soup Recipe
Soups are some of the delicious foods that your kids can enjoy at any given time. Its deliciousness highly depends on how it’s made. Do you know the recipe for a tasty Turkish Tarhana soup? It involves a few ingredients and an easy-to-follow method. Therefore, keep reading to find out how you can make the best soup for your family.
What Is Tarhana Turkish Soup?
The term Tarhana is used to describe a mixture of dried food that is used in making soups. The ingredient Trahan powder is an inspiration from fermented dishes made in the Middle East, Asia, and Southeast Europe.
The dry Tarhana consists of uneven crumbs with a coarse texture. The mixture is used in making the Tarhana Turkish soup by mixing it with stock, water, or milk.
The Tarhana Turkish soup is highly acidic and has a low moisture content. Therefore, it can last for up to a whole year without going bad. The best part about Tarhana Turkish soup is that it is easy to prepare and doesn’t need many specialties in cooking.
If you love fermented foods, then this is the ideal soup to prepare for your family. The soup has been part of Turkish meals for thousands of years. However, it is currently consumed in different parts of the world.
Ingredients
The quantity of ingredients needed to make the Tarhana soup depends on the number of people you want to serve. The soup’s deliciousness depends on whether or not you use the right proportions when making it. If you use less or more of a particular ingredient, it might alter the taste, and in turn, you will enjoy the tasty soup you expected.
According to Quick and Tasty Food, one of the key things to note when buying the ingredients is that you should get the Tarhana powder. Although you could make one at home, it is a lengthy process, and you might not have enough time for that. If you have all the ingredients ready, it only takes 10 minutes to prepare the soup. Imagine how long it would take you to prepare the Trahan powder. However, if you prefer making it at home, it’s also recommended.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make the Trahan Turkish soup.
- One cup of Tarhana powder
- Six cups water/milk/stock
- One teaspoon of salt
- Two cloves of garlic
- One teaspoon of tomato paste
- One teaspoon of black pepper
- One teaspoon of mint
- Two tablespoons of butter
- One teaspoon of paprika
Method
- Mix one cup of Tarhana Turkish powder with one cup of warm water/milk/stock. Leave the mixture to sit for a few minutes to soften.
- Heat your butter in a pan and add the cloves, tomato paste, and garlic. Fry the ingredients for approximately two to three minutes.
- Add the salt, paprika, pepper, and mint into the mix and continue stirring for one minute.
- Add your soaked Tarhana powered and stir to ensure it mixes well.
- Add the remaining amount of water/milk/stock, and use a whisk to ensure that all the ingredients mix well.
- Serve when hot, and enjoy your meal.
How to Make Tarhana Powder
Although some people prefer to buy the ready Tarhana powder, others choose to make it at home. Regardless of the method you follow, you can be assured that the right recipe will give you the tastiest Tarhana Turkish soup. The Trahan powder is made by mixing flour, plain yogurt, and grated vegetables. The vegetables to use can vary from one person to another. However, the common ones are tomatoes, onions, and red peppers. Before using them, ensure to boil until they soften.
According to The Spruce Eats, the mixture is blended into a thick paste, which is then left to ferment for a few days. This lengthy process explains why some people prefer to buy the ready powder. The paste is dried and crumbled to form the Tarhana powder. The best part about making your powder is that you can make a large amount of it and store it for future use. When dried well, it can last up to a year. Once you have made your Tarhana powder, follow the above recipe to make the soup.
Changes to the Soup
The above recipe is the standard used in preparing the Tarhana Turkish soup. However, people’s tastes and preferences vary. Therefore, some people might choose to make a few changes to the recipe to ensure that it suits their preferences. One of the most notable things about this soup is its color. The delicacy should have a bright orange or red tone. If this is not the color of your soup, it means that you have not used enough tomatoes or tomato paste. In this case, you should add more until you attain the necessary color.
Some people also prefer to garnish their soup with dry mint or hot red pepper flakes. These ingredients do not make huge changes to the taste of the soup. However, if you prefer to enjoy the original taste consumed in Turkey for thousands of years, it’s best not to add other ingredients than what’s listed above. When the soup sits for a while, it can become thicker. In this case, it’s advisable to add your preferred liquid to attain the preferred consistency.
What Is the Dietary Information about Tarhana Turkish Soup?
The Tarhana Turkish soup is an idea for vegetarians because it doesn’t contain any meat products. It is rich in vitamins needed to keep them functioning well. The yogurt used in making the Tarhana powered helps in providing the necessary content of proteins to make the soup a balanced meal.
The soup contains wheat and, therefore, is not gluten-free. However, if you wish to make gluten-free soup, it’s advisable to choose the right flour(Gluten-free) for your recipe. If you plan to buy the readymade powered, ensure that it’s ideal for your preferences.
Who Can Eat the Trahan Turkish Soup?
For thousands of years, the Tarhana soup has been a delicacy enjoyable for any person. Some people give it to their children as soon as they hit the weaning stage. Therefore, it is ideal for preparing soup for the entire family. The only challenge is that it is made from fermented ingredients. Therefore, it might not be the best meal for people who don’t like the taste of fermented food. Given that soup is very spicy, some people might find it delicious, while others consider it too spicy.
The process of making the Trahan Turkish soup is not a complex one. All that you need are the above ingredients, and in less than 30 minutes, you will have your soup ready. If you prefer making the Tarhana powder in advance, it’s advisable to plan because it takes a while to prepare. In most cases, when the weather is sunny, you will need at least two weeks to dry it well.
