Aush (Afghan Noodle Soup with Beans and Yogurt)
Local name: آش
In short: A thick Afghan soup of noodles, beans, chickpeas and spinach in a tomato broth, finished with garlic yogurt and dried mint. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 5 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 5
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 420 kcal
Aush is a thick noodle soup from Afghan kitchens, a meal in a bowl for cold days. Noodles, beans and chickpeas cook in a tomato broth with ground lamb, spinach and dill, and the soup is topped with garlic yogurt and dried mint. The sour, cool yogurt cuts through the richness and makes each spoonful taste a little different. It is a one-pot dinner that feeds a crowd.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Fry the onion for 8 minutes until golden, then add the garlic and lamb and brown for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato paste, turmeric, coriander, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and water and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the beans and chickpeas and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender, stirring now and then. Add the spinach and dill for the last 3 minutes. Add a splash of water if the soup is too thick.
- Stir the yogurt with the garlic and salt.
- Ladle the soup into bowls, spoon over the garlic yogurt and sprinkle with dried mint.
Tips
- The noodles keep absorbing liquid, so thin the soup with hot water when reheating leftovers. Cook the noodles separately if you plan to store it.
- For a vegetarian soup, replace the lamb with 100 g (1/2 cup) of red lentils and use vegetable stock. Simmer a little longer before adding the noodles.
Questions and answers
Can I use canned beans?
Yes. Rinse and drain two 400 g (14 oz) cans of beans and chickpeas, and add them with the noodles, since they only need to be heated through.
Can I freeze aush?
Freeze the soup without the noodles for up to 3 months. Thaw, bring to a simmer, then cook fresh noodles in it before serving.
Is aush a main dish?
Yes. With the beans, noodles and meat it is filling, and Afghan families often serve it with flatbread as a full meal.
How long does it take to make Aush (Afghan Noodle Soup with Beans and Yogurt)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Aush (Afghan Noodle Soup with Beans and Yogurt)?
About 420 kcal per serving, with 24 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 420 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 9 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
