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Zupa brzadowa
Sweet-sour dried fruit soup
Zupa brzadowa: Kashubian sweet-sour dried fruit soup with small flour dumplings
PolishKashubian farmhouses near Kartuzy and Kościerzyna dried their pears, apples and plums over the stove every autumn, and the dried fruit, called brzad, went into this soup through the winter. It surprises newcomers: warm, sweet and gently sour, smelling of cloves and cinnamon, with tender fruit and little spoon-dropped dumplings, sometimes served with boiled potatoes as a full meal. In the past a meaty version existed too; this one is meat-free. A common mistake is sweetening it like compote; it should taste fruity first, with only a little sugar and a clear sour edge. Chef's tip: soak the fruit overnight if you can, and cook it in its soaking water for the best flavour.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the soup
- 6 ¾ cups water
- 3 cloves
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp plain flour
For the dumplings
- 4 oz plain flour
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rinse 10 ½ oz mixed dried fruit (pears, apples, prunes) and put it in a large pan with 6 ¾ cups water. Leave to soak for at least 15 minutes (or overnight).
15 minStep 2: Add 1 cinnamon stick and 3 cloves, bring to the boil and simmer for 25 minutes, until the fruit is soft and plump.
25 minStep 3: Meanwhile beat 4 oz plain flour, 1 egg, ¼ cup milk and 1 pinch salt into a thick, smooth batter that drops slowly from a spoon.
3 minStep 4: Season the soup with 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp cider vinegar and 1 pinch salt and taste for a balance of sweet and sour. Remove the cinnamon and cloves.
2 minStep 5: Drop the batter into the simmering soup in small half-teaspoons. Cook for 4–5 minutes, until all the dumplings float and feel firm.
6 minStep 6: Whisk ½ cup sour cream with 1 tbsp plain flour, temper with a ladle of hot soup, then stir it in. Heat for 2 minutes without boiling, until silky, and serve warm.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 64 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does zupa brzadowa take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 45 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 cinnamon stick?
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon per stick.
- What can I use instead of cloves?
- Ground cloves, ¼ tsp for every 3 whole cloves.
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