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Shorbet kishk
Fermented yoghurt and wheat soup
Shorbet kishk: Bekaa winter soup of fermented yoghurt-wheat powder, garlic and onion
In the Bekaa Valley, late summer means spreading bulgur fermented with yoghurt on rooftops to dry, then rubbing it into kishk powder that keeps the family through winter. On a cold morning that powder becomes shorbet kishk, a thick, tangy, porridge-like soup eaten for breakfast with radishes, spring onions and flatbread to scoop it up. Meat-eaters often add preserved lamb (awarma); this version keeps it vegetarian with plenty of garlic and onion fried in olive oil. Kishk powder is sold in Middle Eastern grocers. Common mistake: adding the powder to hot water; it clumps, so always whisk it into cold water first. Chef's tip: finish with a spoonful of garlic sizzled in oil and a pinch of dried mint poured over each bowl.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 4 oz kishk powder
- 5 cups cold water
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 5 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 tsp dried mint
- ½ tsp salttaste first; kishk is salty
To serve
- 8 radishes (optional)
- 4 spring onions (optional)
- 4 Lebanese flatbread (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk 4 oz kishk powder into 5 cups cold water in a bowl until smooth and leave to soak for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 3: Pour in the kishk mixture and bring slowly to a simmer, stirring constantly so it doesn't catch, for about 8 minutes, until it thickens to a pouring porridge. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick. Taste and add ½ tsp salt only if needed.
8 minStep 4: In a small pan, heat the rest of 1 ¼ tbsp olive oil, sizzle the remaining 2 cloves garlic for 30 seconds until pale gold, then stir in 1 tsp dried mint.
1 minStep 5: Ladle the soup into bowls, spoon the garlic oil over and serve hot with 8 radishes, 4 spring onions and 4 Lebanese flatbread.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 25 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does shorbet kishk take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 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 onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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