Ciorbă de Legume (Romanian Sour Vegetable Soup)
Local name: Ciorbă de legume
In short: A tangy summer soup of potatoes, carrots, green beans and peppers soured with lemon or sauerkraut brine and finished with fresh herbs. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 170 kcal
Ciorbă de legume is the soup that turns a basket of summer vegetables into a pot of comfort. Potatoes, carrots, parsnip, peppers, green beans and peas simmer in a light broth, which is then soured with lemon juice or sauerkraut brine and scattered with lovage or parsley. It is a common choice on fasting days, since it needs no meat, and it tastes best with a slice of bread and a bite of hot pepper.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onion, carrots, parsnip, celery root and bell pepper for 8 minutes, stirring, until they start to soften.
- Pour in the hot water, add the salt and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the green beans and tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes more, until the beans are tender but still bright.
- Stir in the peas and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add half the sauerkraut brine or lemon juice, then taste.
- Add more brine or lemon until the soup is pleasantly sharp, and adjust the salt. Stir in the lovage and dill and take the pot off the heat.
- Serve hot, with bread and a fresh or pickled hot pepper on the side.
Tips
- Add the sour ingredient in stages and taste each time. Strength varies a lot between brines and lemons, so there is no fixed amount.
- Traditional borș, a sour liquid from fermented wheat bran, is the classic souring agent. Lemon juice or brine is easier to find abroad and works well.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between a ciorbă and a supă?
A ciorbă is sour, soured with lemon, borș, sauerkraut brine or vinegar. A supă is a clear, mild soup that is not soured.
Can I freeze ciorbă de legume?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Freeze it before adding the herbs, and stir in fresh herbs and a little more sour brine after reheating.
What do you serve with it?
Bread, a fresh or pickled hot pepper and, if you like, pickles or a slice of raw onion.
How long does it take to make Ciorbă de Legume (Romanian Sour Vegetable Soup)?
About 1 h in total: 25 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ciorbă de Legume (Romanian Sour Vegetable Soup)?
About 170 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrates and 5 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 170 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 11 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
