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Shorbat shoofan
Oat and tomato soup
Shorbat shoofan (شوربة شوفان): Saudi Ramadan oat soup with tomato and cardamom
When the sunset call to prayer ends the Ramadan fast, many Saudi families in Riyadh and Jeddah reach first for dates, water and a cup of shorbat shoofan, a gentle, velvety oat soup scented with cardamom and black pepper. Most households make it with chicken broth and shreds of chicken; this vegetarian version uses a good vegetable stock and keeps the same comforting body. The oats thicken the tomato broth into something silky, light enough to eat before the main meal. People often add the oats too early and boil them into glue; they need only 10–15 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges and a few chopped herbs. Chef's tip: toast the oats in the pan for a minute before adding stock for a nuttier flavour.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 2 garlic clovescrushed
- 1 carrotfinely diced
- 3 green cardamom podscrushed
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tomatoesgrated
- 2 ⅞ oz rolled oats
- 1.2 litres vegetable stock
- ½ tsp saltor to taste
- 1 lemonin wedges
- 2 tbsp parsley or coriander (optional)chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a pot over a medium heat and soften 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves and 1 carrot for 6 minutes without browning.
6 minStep 2: Stir in 3 green cardamom pods, ½ tsp ground cumin, ½ tsp ground black pepper and 1 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until the paste darkens.
1 minStep 3: Add 2 tomatoes and cook until they break down, 4 minutes.
4 minStep 4: Add 2 ⅞ oz rolled oats and stir for a minute, then pour in 1.2 litres vegetable stock with ½ tsp salt and bring to the boil.
3 minStep 5: Simmer, stirring often, until the oats are soft and the soup is creamy and coats a spoon lightly, 12–15 minutes. Thin with hot water if needed.
15 minStep 6: Taste, then serve hot with 1 lemon and 2 tbsp parsley or coriander.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does shorbat shoofan take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 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 garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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