Skābeņu Zupa (Latvian Sorrel Soup)
Local name: Skābeņu zupa
In short: A tart green soup of fresh sorrel, potato and carrot, served with a halved boiled egg, sour cream and plenty of dill. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 270 kcal
Sorrel soup is a taste of early summer in Latvia, when the first sorrel leaves come up in gardens and markets. The leaves dissolve in minutes and give the broth a lemony sourness that is balanced by potato, a spoon of sour cream and a boiled egg. It is a light soup that still feels like a meal. Add the sorrel at the end, since long cooking turns its bright green to olive.
Instructions
- Boil the eggs for 9 minutes, cool them in cold water, peel and halve them.
- Heat the oil in a pot and cook the onion and carrot for 6 minutes, until soft.
- Add the water, potatoes and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 12 minutes, until the potatoes are almost tender.
- Stir in the sorrel and cook for just 3 to 4 minutes, until the leaves turn olive green and melt into the broth.
- Season with the pepper and adjust the salt. Serve hot, with egg halves, a spoonful of sour cream and dill in each bowl.
Tips
- Sorrel loses its color quickly, so add it late and serve soon. The soup is meant to taste sour, and the sour cream softens it.
- No sorrel? Use 300 g (10.5 oz) spinach and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, or frozen sorrel from an Eastern European shop.
Questions and answers
Can I make sorrel soup ahead of time?
Make the base without the sorrel up to 2 days ahead and add the sorrel while reheating. Soup with sorrel in it keeps for a day but loses its fresh color.
Can I freeze sorrel soup?
Yes, for up to 3 months. The potatoes soften a little after freezing, but the flavor holds.
What does sorrel taste like?
Tart and lemony, like spinach with a sour edge. The leaves melt into the soup within minutes.
How long does it take to make Skābeņu Zupa (Latvian Sorrel Soup)?
About 45 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Skābeņu Zupa (Latvian Sorrel Soup)?
About 270 kcal per serving, with 11 g of protein, 24 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 270 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
