Bob Chorba (Bulgarian White Bean Soup)
Local name: Боб чорба
In short: White beans simmered with onion, carrot, tomato and sweet pepper, finished with a paprika oil and dried mint. A cheap, filling, meat-free classic. It takes about 2 h in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 40 min
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 2 h
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 245 kcal
Bob chorba is the bean soup many Bulgarians call their national dish. Dried white beans cook slowly with onion, carrot, a sweet pepper and tomato, then get a quick base of warm oil and sweet paprika. Dried mint and fresh parsley go in at the end, with hot pepper flakes on the side. It is cheap, filling and meat-free, so it is common during fasting periods.
Instructions
- Rinse the soaked beans and put them in a large pot with the water. Bring to a boil, skim off the foam and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add the onion, carrots and pepper and simmer for 30 minutes more.
- Stir in the tomatoes and savory and cook until the beans are very tender, 20 to 30 minutes, adding hot water if the pot looks dry.
- Warm the oil in a small pan over low heat, take it off the heat and stir in the paprika for 20 seconds. Paprika burns quickly. Pour it into the soup at once.
- Mash a handful of beans against the side of the pot to thicken the broth and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the salt and the mint, taste and adjust. Ladle into bowls and top with the parsley and chili flakes.
Tips
- Salt the soup near the end, because early salt can keep the beans from softening. If your beans are old, a pinch of baking soda in the soaking water helps them soften.
- The soup tastes even better the next day. Loosen it with hot water when reheating, and sprinkle on a little extra dried mint and chili flakes at the table.
Questions and answers
Do I have to soak the beans?
Soaking overnight shortens the cooking time and helps the beans cook evenly. Without soaking, plan on 30 to 45 minutes more simmering.
Can I use canned beans?
Yes. Use 3 cans (400 g each) of white beans. Simmer the vegetables in 1 liter (4 cups) of water for 20 minutes, add the drained beans and cook for 15 minutes more.
How spicy is Bulgarian bean soup?
It is mild. Hot pepper flakes are offered at the table for people who want heat.
How long does it take to make Bob Chorba (Bulgarian White Bean Soup)?
About 2 h in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bob Chorba (Bulgarian White Bean Soup)?
About 245 kcal per serving, with 12 g of protein, 38 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 245 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 12 g |
| Carbohydrates | 38 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 11 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 590 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
