Spas (Armenian Yogurt and Barley Soup)
Local name: Սպաս
In short: A warm yogurt soup with chewy barley or wheat, fresh herbs and onion-mint butter, served hot in winter or cold in summer. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 1 h 5 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 175 kcal
Spas is the yogurt and grain soup of Armenia, comforting in winter and refreshing when served chilled in summer. Whole grains of wheat or pearl barley simmer until chewy, then a mix of yogurt, egg and a little flour is stirred in slowly so it stays smooth. A spoonful of onion fried with dried mint and butter goes on top, along with fresh cilantro. The one rule is to stir constantly while it comes to a simmer.
Instructions
- Put the barley, water and salt in a pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 40 to 45 minutes until the grains are tender and chewy.
- Whisk the yogurt, egg and flour in a bowl until completely smooth. Whisk in 2 ladles of the hot barley liquid, a little at a time, to warm the mixture.
- Pour the yogurt mixture into the pot over low heat. Stir constantly in one direction until the soup comes to a gentle simmer, about 8 to 10 minutes. Do not let it boil hard, or the yogurt will curdle.
- Melt the butter in a small pan and cook the onion for 6 minutes until soft and golden. Add the dried mint for 20 seconds, then remove from the heat.
- Stir the cilantro and green onions into the soup and adjust the salt. Ladle into bowls and spoon some of the onion and mint butter over each.
Tips
- Whisk the yogurt with the egg and flour until completely smooth, and warm it with hot broth before adding it to the pot. Cold yogurt added directly can curdle.
- Stir in one direction and keep the heat low. A hard boil makes the yogurt split.
Questions and answers
Can I serve spas cold?
Yes. Chill it for 3 hours. It thickens, so thin it with a little cold water or a few ice cubes before serving.
Why did my spas curdle?
The soup got too hot, or the yogurt went in without being warmed first. Stir constantly, keep the heat low and use full-fat yogurt.
Can I use something other than barley?
Pearled wheat is traditional, and cooked rice also works. Add rice at the end, since it needs only 15 minutes.
How long does it take to make Spas (Armenian Yogurt and Barley Soup)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 1 h 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Spas (Armenian Yogurt and Barley Soup)?
About 175 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 20 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 175 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 20 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 480 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
