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Arabaşı çorbası
Arabaşı: spicy chicken soup eaten with cubes of chilled set dough, Kayseri and Konya style
On winter evenings in Kayseri, Konya and Yozgat, friends gather for arabaşı nights: a big pot of fiery, tomatoey chicken soup and a tray of plain set dough cut into cubes. Each person drops a cube of cold dough into a spoonful of hot soup and swallows it whole, without chewing, and the hot-cold contrast is the whole fun. Common mistake: making the dough too soft; it should set firm enough to slice cleanly once chilled. Cook the chicken until its juices run clear and it reaches 74 °C before shredding. Chef's tip: make the dough the morning before, or even the day before, so it is properly cold and firm.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the soup
For the dough
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Simmer 1 ¾ lb chicken thighs and drumsticks in 10 ½ cups water with half of 1 tsp salt for 40–45 minutes, skimming at first, until tender and cooked through to 165°F with clear juices.
45 minStep 2: Lift out the chicken, strain the broth and set aside 1 litre for the dough. Shred the meat, discarding skin and bones.
Step 3: For the dough, whisk 9 oz plain flour into the reserved 4 ¼ cups chicken broth from the pot and the rest of 1 tsp salt in a pan until smooth. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly, for 10–12 minutes, until very thick and glossy and it pulls away from the pan.
12 minStep 4: Pour into a tray rinsed with cold water to about 2 cm deep, smooth the top and cool, then chill for at least 3 hours until firm.
180 minStep 5: For the soup, melt 1 ⅜ oz butter in a pot and stir in 2 tbsp plain flour for 2 minutes. Add 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp hot Turkish red pepper paste and 2 tsp Turkish chilli flakes (pul biber) and stir 1 minute more.
3 minStep 6: Whisk in the remaining broth gradually, add the chicken and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in 3 tbsp lemon juice and taste; it should be hot, sour and savoury.
10 minStep 7: Cut the dough into 2 cm cubes. Serve the soup piping hot in bowls with the cold dough on a plate; drop a cube into each spoonful of soup.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does arabaşı çorbası take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 70 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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