With Orthodox Easter just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to celebrate with a traditional recipe for lamb soup! Chef Ivana Raca shows us how to make this delicious soup that combines lamb fresh off the spit with hearty vegetables including carrots, celery, and onions. Plus, ramp up the traditional Greek flavours by finishing it off with some sour cream and sprigs of dill.
You simply can’t go wrong with a steaming hot bowl of soup, and this recipe is here to prove it.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs lamb shanks (or shoulder or necks) cut up
- 400 grams lamb meat (from the lamb spit)
- 2 quarts water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large parsley root peeled and chopped
- 3 medium carrots peeled and chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes peeled, seeded, chopped
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)
- 3 medium onions
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- paprika to taste
- 2 large egg yolks
- 8 oz sour cream
- 4 sprigs dill
METHOD
Method:
- Wash 1 pound cut-up lamb shank, shoulder, or neck meat and place in a pot with 4 quarts of water and 2 bay leaves. Bring to a boil, skimming off foam. Reduce heat to simmer.
- Add 1 large chopped parsley root, 3 medium peeled and chopped carrots, 2 ribs chopped celery, 1 clove finely chopped garlic, and 2 medium peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes. Return to a boil, reduce heat and continue to simmer 2 hours or until meat is tender.
- Prepare a zafrig (roux) by heating 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil in a medium saucepan. Add 3 medium chopped onions , and saute until tender. Add 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour gradually, stirring constantly until light brown. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika to taste.
- Temper the zafrig (roux) by adding a little hot soup to it and stirring constantly until smooth.
- Pour the zafrig (roux) back into the soup pot, mixing thoroughly and simmering until dissolved about 15 minutes. Turn heat off and remove soup from the burner. Place the lamb leftovers into the soup.
- Beat 2 large egg yolks until thick and lemony in colour. Add 8 ounces of sour cream and mix thoroughly.
- Temper the egg yolks with a little hot soup, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Pour the tempered egg yolks into the soup, stirring until the soup has thickened slightly.
- Remove bay leaves and add chopped dill. Serve in heated bowls.