Arpa Şehriye Çorbası - Turkish Orzo Soup

5 from 1 vote

Arpa Şehriye Çorbası - Turkish Orzo Soup

Arpa Şehriye Çorbası, or Turkish Orzo Soup, is a comforting and delicious tomato-based soup made with orzo pasta, and chicken stock, and flavored with garlic, mint, and flaked chili.

Prep Time5

Cook Time20

Total Time25

Course: Appetizer, Soup

Cuisine: Mediterranean, Turkish

Diet: Halal, Low Lactose

Servings: people

Calories: 243kcal

Author: Ayla Clulee

Equipment

1 kitchen scale
1 measuring spoons
1 Measuring cups

Ingredients

2 tablespoon butter or olive oil
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon red pepper paste
¼ teaspoon chili flakes
1 teaspoon dried mint
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 shallot or small onion (optional)
½ cup orzo
5 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock (1 ¼ litres)
lemon juice and parsley to garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat butter or olive oil in a pot. Add chopped garlic, tomato paste, red pepper paste, salt, freshly ground black pepper, turmeric, chili, and dried mint. Saute for a few minutes to reduce acidity and deepen the flavor.
Pour in the chicken or vegetable stock, stir well to combine, and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Add the orzo to the boiling soup. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the orzo is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Add chopped parsley, taste, and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Serve with plenty of lemon juice to add brightness.

Notes

Stir frequently during cooking to ensure the orzo doesn’t clump together.
Add more broth or water if the soup becomes too thick as the orzo cooks.
The soup is best enjoyed fresh, as orzo tends to absorb liquid and thicken the soup upon standing.
The amount of salt stated in the recipe is for homemade stock. Reduce the amount of salt if you are using store-bought stock as they already contain some salt.

Nutrition