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Eshkeneh
Eshkeneh (اشکنه): Tabriz onion, fenugreek and egg soup
Eshkeneh is the soup of the cold north-west, cooked in Tabriz kitchens on winter evenings when there is little in the house but onions, eggs and dried fenugreek. The onions are fried very slowly until sweet and brown, a spoon of flour and turmeric thickens the broth, and eggs are dropped in to poach at the end; a little sour from lemon or dried sour cherries balances it. Azerbaijani families crumble barbari or lavash into their bowls so the bread soaks up the broth. A common mistake is rushing the onions, which leaves the soup thin and harsh rather than mellow and golden. Chef's tip: add the dried fenugreek with the flour, not before, because it scorches quickly and turns bitter.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
To serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the 4 tbsp sunflower oil or butter in a pot over a medium-low heat and fry the 3 onions for 15 minutes, stirring often, until soft and evenly golden brown.
15 minStep 2: Stir in the 2 tbsp plain flour, 1 tsp ground turmeric and 2 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, without letting it darken.
1 minStep 3: Whisk in the 5 cups hot water gradually, add the 1 potato, 1 ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes until the potato is tender.
10 minStep 4: Stir in the 2 tbsp lemon juice. Turn the heat down so the soup barely bubbles and crack in the 4 eggs one by one. Poach for 4 minutes until the whites are firm. For a cloudier soup, stir the eggs gently so they break into ribbons.
4 minStep 5: Ladle into bowls with one egg each and serve with torn 4 pieces barbari or lavash bread to dunk.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does eshkeneh take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of sunflower oil or butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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