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Leshta chorba
Lentil soup
Леща чорба (leshta chorba): Bulgarian lentil soup with carrot, tomato, paprika and savory
Leshta chorba is cooked in Bulgarian homes all winter, and it is the soup of choice on fasting days before Christmas and Easter, when families eat no meat or dairy. Brown lentils simmer with onion, carrot and tomato, coloured with sweet paprika and scented with chubritsa (summer savory), the herb that makes Bulgarian cooking taste like itself. It is eaten with a slice of wholemeal bread and a few pickles. Suitable as part of a balanced diet. About 280 kcal and 34 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is frying the paprika in very hot oil: it burns and turns bitter in a few seconds, so take the pan off the heat first. Chef's tip: a splash of vinegar stirred into each bowl at the table brightens the earthy lentils.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz brown lentilsrinsed
- 6 ¼ cups water
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 2 carrotsdiced
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp dried savory (chubritsa)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp dried mint (optional)
- 1 tbsp wine vinegar, to serve (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 9 oz brown lentils, 6 ¼ cups water and 1 bay leaf in a pot, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 2: Meanwhile heat 3 tbsp sunflower oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and cook 1 onion and 2 carrots for 8 minutes until soft. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato purée for 1 minute.
9 minStep 3: Take the pan off the heat and stir in 2 tsp sweet paprika for 10 seconds, then tip everything into the lentils straight away.
1 minStep 4: Add 1 tsp dried savory (chubritsa) and 1 ¼ tsp salt and simmer for 15–20 minutes, until the lentils are soft and the soup is thick. Add a splash of water if needed.
20 minStep 5: Serve sprinkled with ½ tsp dried mint, with 1 tbsp wine vinegar, to serve at the table.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 12 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does leshta chorba take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 40 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 vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of carrots?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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