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Pirpirim çorbası
Purslane, bean and bulgur soup
Pirpirim çorbası: Black Sea purslane soup with beans and cracked wheat
Purslane grows wild between the tea rows and maize fields of Giresun and Ordu, and in high summer it ends up in pirpirim çorbası, a lemony, slightly tangy soup thickened with cracked wheat and soft white beans. Families make it in big pots on hot days because it is just as good served lukewarm as piping hot. The fleshy leaves turn silky, the bulgur gives a gentle chew and a spoon of yoghurt on top makes it a full lunch. Common mistake: adding the purslane too early so it turns slimy and grey; it needs only 10 minutes. Chef's tip: keep a few raw sprigs back and stir them in at the end for crunch and a fresh green colour.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz purslanethick stems removed, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 ⅛ oz coarse bulgurrinsed
- 8 ½ oz cooked white beansdrained
- 5 cups hot water or vegetable stock
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried mint
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Method
0/5 doneStep 2: Stir in 1 tbsp tomato paste for 1 minute, until it darkens.
1 minStep 3: Add 2 ⅛ oz coarse bulgur, 8 ½ oz cooked white beans, 5 cups hot water or vegetable stock and 1 tsp salt. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 15 minutes, until the bulgur is almost tender.
15 minStep 4: Add 10 ½ oz purslane, keeping a small handful back, and simmer 10 minutes more, until the leaves are soft but still green.
10 minStep 5: Stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp dried mint and the reserved purslane. Taste for salt and serve hot or warm; a spoon of thick yoghurt on top is traditional if you are not keeping it vegan.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 210 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 27 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pirpirim çorbası take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 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.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of hot water or vegetable stock?
- Chicken stock, same amount (not vegetarian).
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