Yayla Çorbası (Turkish Yogurt and Rice Soup with Mint)
In short: A smooth, creamy soup of rice simmered with yogurt and a little flour, finished with melted butter, dried mint and red pepper flakes. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 250 kcal
Yayla çorbası is a mild, creamy soup that tastes like comfort. Rice cooks soft in water, then yogurt, a little flour and egg yolk go in, and sizzling mint butter finishes the bowl. Yayla means highland pasture, a nod to the dairy at its heart. It is gentle enough for children and anyone feeling under the weather, and it comes together in about 40 minutes from pantry ingredients.
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a large pot. Add the rice and 1 tsp salt and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes, until the rice is very soft.
- In a bowl, whisk the yogurt, egg yolk and flour until completely smooth.
- Whisk a ladle of the hot rice water into the yogurt mixture, then a second ladle. This warms it gradually so it does not curdle.
- Pour the yogurt mixture slowly into the pot, stirring constantly. Keep the heat low and stir for 8 to 10 minutes, keeping it at the barest simmer, until slightly thickened and creamy.
- Season with the remaining salt. Melt the butter in a small pan and stir in the mint and pepper flakes for 20 seconds.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle each one with the hot mint butter.
Tips
- Whole-milk yogurt and the flour help keep the soup smooth. If it curdles anyway, a few seconds with a stick blender brings it back together.
- To make it heartier, stir in 150 g (1 cup) cooked chickpeas, or finish with extra fresh mint.
Questions and answers
Why does my yogurt soup curdle?
Yogurt splits when it meets high heat too suddenly. Whisk it with flour and egg, warm it with a little hot liquid first and keep the soup at a gentle simmer while you stir.
Is yayla soup served hot or cold?
Hot. Turkish cooking also has cold yogurt soups, such as cacık thinned with water, but yayla çorbası is a warm, comforting soup.
Can I use leftover rice?
Yes. Add 250 g (about 1 1/2 cups) of cooked rice to 1 liter of simmering water for 5 minutes, then continue. The soup will be a little thinner.
How long does it take to make Yayla Çorbası (Turkish Yogurt and Rice Soup with Mint)?
About 45 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Yayla Çorbası (Turkish Yogurt and Rice Soup with Mint)?
About 250 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 920 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
