Ciorba (Romanian Vegetable Soup)

„Ciorba“ is a basic sour Romanian vegetable soup. There are many different types of this soup, found all over the Balkan countries. This one is a basic recipe for the Romanian one.

Meat or no meat

My grandmother and mother used to add meat or meatballs. So, you will get to the "Ciorbă de perișoare". including meat, you will get a full meal that is great during a cold winter evening for the whole family. Who doesn't like meatballs...

Add love and loveage

The sour taste comes from quite a lot of lemon and the distictive taste is given by lovage. A must to get to this taste. I do not agree with some recipes that say that you can take parsley instead. You can’t. You need actually both but the lovage is key. i

Ingredients

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1 large onion chopped

2 large carrots chopped

2 stalks celery chopped

½ tablespoon salt or to taste

½ tablespoon black pepper or to taste

2 tablespoon tomato paste

1 liter of chicken broth

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoon (20 g) of lovage chopped

2 tablespoon (20 g) of parsley chopped

Preparation

Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottom to medium heat. Add the onions, carrots and celery to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions soften and are translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the chicken broth. Bring to a soft boil.

If you want to add any meat or meatballs then now is the time to add it.

Cook for about 20 minutes. Add the lemon juice and lovage. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust as necessary.