Kharcho: Georgian Beef-Walnut Soup with Fresh Herbs 🍲
Description: This truly outstanding soup can singlehandedly help you prepare for or recover from a blizzard, a grueling journey, any challenge you can imagine–it is that rich and robust. It has an unusual number of herbs and flavorings; these create an exotic but not offputting taste and texture. I recommend it highly. Serve hot as a meal to 6-8 people.
- Cuisine: European
- Seasonality: Winter
- Attributes: Spicy, Weeknight, Stove Top, < 4 Hours
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 466.9
- Fat Content: 31.9g
- Saturated Fat Content: 13.2g
- Cholesterol Content: 91.2mg
- Sodium Content: 1217.2mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 18.1g
- Fiber Content: 2.7g
- Sugar Content: 5.3g
- Protein Content: 27.5g
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1 1/2 | Butter |
| 8 | Onions |
| 3 | Flour |
| 2 | Tomato Paste |
| 1 | Tomatoes |
| 3 | Rice |
| 1 | Dried Tarragon |
| 1/4 | Dried Mint |
| 1/2 | Sweet Hungarian Paprika |
| 1/4 | Ground Coriander |
| 1 1/2 | Ground Fenugreek |
| 1/2 | Tamarind Paste |
| 1/2 | Garlic |
| 1/4 | Walnut Pieces |
| 2 | Salt |
| 3 | Fresh Herb (reserve for garnish) |
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Stock:
- Bring the meat, in one big piece, to a boil in the stock.
- Skim off the foam as necessary.
- Reduce heat and simmer, partly covered, for about 1½ hours.
- Remove and reserve the meat.
-
Prepare the Soup Base:
- When the meat has been cooking for an hour or so, melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat, and stir in the onions.
- Fry for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and colored.
- Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for about a minute.
- Add 1/2 cup stock and stir until smooth.
- Stir in the tomato paste and the tomatoes.
- Whisk in the rest of the stock, add the rice, and simmer, covered, for about 10 minutes.
-
Add Flavorings:
- Add all the rest of the ingredients, except for the fresh herbs, and simmer them until the rice is tender–another 10 to 15 minutes.
-
Final Assembly:
- At this point, you can cut the meat into bite-sized pieces.
- When ready to serve, remove the soup from the heat, stir in the meat pieces and the 1/4 cup of fresh chopped herbs, cover, and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the remaining herbs and ladle into bowls.
- Serve with hearty bread and butter and a good Georgian red wine.
Cooking Time: 2 hours
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
This Kharcho soup is a symphony of flavors, blending the richness of beef with the earthiness of walnuts and the aromatic freshness of herbs. Perfect for chilly winter nights or anytime you crave a hearty, comforting meal. Enjoy the warmth and comfort of Georgian cuisine with this delightful dish! 🌟
