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Kjötsúpa
Lamb and root vegetable soup
Kjötsúpa: Icelandic lamb soup with swede, potato, carrot and oats
Kjötsúpa is the soup every Icelander grew up on, simmered from bony lamb shoulder with swede, potatoes, carrots, onion and a handful of rolled oats or rice to thicken it. Icelandic lamb is free-grazing and flavourful, and on the first day of winter in late October, Kjötsúpudagurinn, free soup is ladled out on Skólavörðustígur in Reykjavík. A common mistake is skimming too little at the start, which leaves a greasy, cloudy soup. Chef's tip: serve the meat on a plate beside the soup, as many Icelandic families do, so everyone can pull it from the bone.
- Total time
- 120 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the soup
- 2 ⅝ lb lamb shoulder or neck on the bonein pieces
- 10 ½ cups water
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 ⅜ oz rolled oats
- 1 onionchopped
- 14 oz swedein chunks
- 1 ⅛ lb potatoesin chunks
- 3 carrotsin chunks
- 7 oz white cabbageshredded, optional
- ½ tsp black pepper
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Bring 2 ⅝ lb lamb shoulder or neck on the bone and 10 ½ cups water to the boil and skim well for 5–10 minutes, until the foam stops. Common mistake: skimming too little; it goes cloudy.
10 minStep 2: Add 2 tsp salt, 1 onion, 1 ⅜ oz rolled oats and 1 tsp dried soup herbs or thyme and simmer for 1 hour, partly covered.
60 minStep 3: Add 14 oz swede, 1 ⅛ lb potatoes, 3 carrots and 7 oz white cabbage and simmer 25–30 minutes more, until tender.
30 minStep 4: Season with ½ tsp black pepper. Serve the broth and vegetables in bowls with the lamb on a plate alongside.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 450 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kjötsúpa take?
- About 120 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 100 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of rolled oats?
- Quick oats, same amount.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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