Best Traditional Shorba Recipes

CHORBA FRIK

Steps:

• In a pressure cooker, brown the meat in olive oil.
• Add the garlic, scallions, tomatoes, and celery to meat. Add half the cilantro leaves and tomato paste. Add the chickpeas, stir and sauté over low heat covered for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the spices, salt, bay leaf, mint and hot water. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium.
• Lock the pressure cooker and cook on medium heat for 1 hour.
• Open the pressure cooker and check the amount of liquid. Add a little boiling water if necessary.
• Add frik into the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes over low to medium heat, stirring regularly to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Turn off the heat and add remaining cilantro.

CHORBA HAMRA BEL FRIK (ALGERIAN LAMB, TOMATO, AND FREEKEH SOUP)

Steps:

• Place freekeh in a bowl and cover with cold water. Set aside.
• Combine lamb, onion, pepper, paprika, cinnamon, and salt in a pot. Add oil, 1/2 of the cilantro, 1/2 of the mint, and celery and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and cover with a little water. Bring to a gentle simmer. Add tomato paste, zucchini, and carrot and mix well.
• Set a steamer over the pot and add tomatoes. Cover and steam tomatoes until soft, about 5 minutes. Crush tomatoes using a wooden spoon so pulp drips into the soup. Discard leftover tomato peels. Add potato and enough water to cover. Simmer until potato is soft, about 10 minutes.
• Drain freekeh and add to the soup. Simmer until soft, about 15 minutes. Remove celery stalk. Sprinkle soup with remaining cilantro and mint before serving.

SHORBA LIBIYA - LIBYAN LAMB & CHICKPEA SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large casserole or stock pot. Gently fry the onion for a few minutes, until pale golden & soft.
• Add the lamb, chickpeas, tomato puree, spices & salt, cooking for a few more minutes & stirring well.
• Add the water to the pot, this should cover the mixture - add 1/4 litre more if required. (If adding extra water, remember that you'll need to add a little extra spice & salt to compensate).
• Cover & simmer over a medium heat for approx 45-50 minutes or until the lamb is tender & the soup flavourful. You may add a little extra water again at this point but remember to adjust the seasoning if you do.
• Add the dried mint & the lemon, return to the heat for a further 3-4 minutes then serve.
• Serve each bowl of shorba with a sprig of fresh mint & a lemon wedge on the side.