Guriltai Shol (Mongolian Noodle Soup with Mutton)
Local name: Гурилтай шөл
In short: A plain, warming soup of bone-in mutton, potatoes, carrots and hand-cut noodles in a clear broth. The everyday cold-weather lunch in Mongolia. It takes about 2 h 20 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 1 h 50 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 2 h 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 530 kcal
Guriltai shol is the soup you find in Mongolian homes and small canteens on a cold day. Bone-in mutton simmers until the broth turns rich, then potatoes and carrots go in, and finally squares or ribbons of fresh dough, which cook in minutes. It is mildly seasoned, just salt, pepper and a handful of herbs, which lets the taste of the meat come through.
Instructions
- Put the mutton and cold water in a large pot, bring to a boil and skim the foam for 10 minutes. Add the onion, cover and simmer on low for 1 hour 15 minutes.
- While the soup simmers, mix the flour, salt and water into a firm dough. Knead for 5 minutes, cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- Lift the meat out of the pot, cut it off the bones and return the meat to the broth. Add the potatoes, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Roll the dough about 2 mm thick, dust with flour and cut it into 3 cm (1 1/4 in) squares or ribbons about 1 cm wide.
- Bring the soup to a rolling simmer, add the noodles in handfuls and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until they float and are tender.
- Season to taste and ladle into bowls. Scatter with dill or parsley.
Tips
- Skim the fat from the top of the broth with a spoon if you prefer a lighter soup. Mutton broth is naturally rich.
- Lamb needs about 20 minutes less simmering than mutton. Beef shank works too, but it needs closer to 2 hours to turn tender.
Questions and answers
Can I make guriltai shol ahead of time?
Make the broth and meat up to 3 days ahead. Cook the noodles fresh in the reheated soup, or they absorb the broth and turn soft.
What can I use instead of mutton?
Lamb, beef shank or even chicken thighs. The broth will taste different, but the method is the same, and chicken needs only about 30 minutes.
Is this soup spicy?
No. It is seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic, and many people add a little chili sauce or vinegar at the table.
How long does it take to make Guriltai Shol (Mongolian Noodle Soup with Mutton)?
About 2 h 20 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 1 h 50 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Guriltai Shol (Mongolian Noodle Soup with Mutton)?
About 530 kcal per serving, with 24 g of protein, 67 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 530 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 67 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 1550 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
