Monday, December 9, 2013

10 Traditional Romanian Soups

As promised in the previous post, I will prolong our Romanian culinary journey, by introducing you to another category which plays a major role among Romanian traditional meals: the soups.
While for most countries, a soup is a liquid dish which can contain various ingredients, for Romanians soups are divided into two categories: what you would call a soup, and our traditional sour soups, very outrageous for foreigners, but also very appreciated.

In what follows, I will present you some of our most popular traditional soups, which according to the souring ingredient can be called Ciorbă or Borş.

1. Ciorbă de burtă (Tripe Soup)
Although it probably sounds disgusting for a foreigner, since the main ingredient is the tripe (cow's stomach), this dish is a true delicacy, very refined, very sophisticated and also one of the most expensive to be found in restaurants. The souring agent used in this soup is vinegar, and of course, sour cream.
For all the curious ones, this is the recipe.

2. Borş de perişoare (Meatball Sour Soup)
This is normally the favourite soup of foreigners. Definitely something to remember Romania by. Soured with the traditional borş (fermented wheat bran), this dish combines a velvety green's soup, with the delightfully spicy meatballs, resulting in a delicious treat for any lunch or dinner.
Here you can find the recipe.

3. Ciorbă or Borş de Peşte (Fish Soup)
As well as some of you might know, Romania is the home of the Danube Delta, famous for its rare and varied flora and fauna. Fish is obviously the most popular ingredient in the area, and locals use it for literally all meals. 
The fish soup has its roots in the Delta, and probably nowhere else in the country you can eat one as good as there. The main part of the fish soup, is the fish's head, and the whole cooking of the soup process goes around it. Sour, filled with vegetables and with the deliciously cooked fish, this soup is sure to please any food lover.
Here is a very simple and nice recipe.

4. Ciorbă de salată (Green Salad and Smoked Meat Soup)
Although it probably sounds weird, the soup of green salad leaves and smoked meat is a true delight for the senses. Combined with rice, eggs, greens, and served with sour-cream or yoghurt, this Romanian delicacy has a very unique taste and it is famous for its special flavours and also, for its health benefits.
I was not able to find any English recipe for it, but I can certainly advise you to try it during your next trip to Romania.

5. Ciorbă Rădăuţeană (Soup from Rădăuţi)
As even the name suggests it, this soup has its roots in the town of Rădăuţi, situated in the North-Eastern part of Romania, and it came to life as an alternative to the popular Tripe Soup. Unlike the Tripe Soup, this dish uses chicken meat, which combined with vegetables, eggs, vinegar, condiments and sour-cream, results in one of the most savoury and delicious soups in the Romanian cuisine.
This recipe is really good and easy to prepare.

6. Ciorbă țărănească (Peasant Soup)
This traditional Romanian dish is one of the oldest and most unsophisticated soups, but at the same time full of vitamins and perfect for a cold winter's dinner. It can contain all types of meat (or none) and numerous vegetable, greens and condiments combinations. It can be served with sour-cream or hot peppers and it is sure to make your meal a delicious one.
Here you can find an extremely simple vegetarian Peasant Soup.

7. Ciorbă de potroace (Giblets Soup)
Yes, you read it correctly! It's giblets! This soup is normally made cooked from the wings, necks, hearts and gizzards of whatever poultry you have around. It is most famous for its healing effect, being the best cure for hangovers. This is mainly because its essential ingredient is sour cabbage juice, which makes it extremely sour, but terribly delicious. And trust me, this soup can heal you like nothing else! 
If you are curious, here is the recipe of the Giblets Soup.

8. Ciorbă de fasole cu afumătură (Bean and Smoked Meat Soup)
My own personal favourite. I don't have enough words to express how amazing the smoked pork meat combines with the bean soup, which has of course, the typical sourness of Romanian soups. This is the type of food that once you try, you will keep on craving for it. 
This is the recipe and please, take my advice: try it!

9. Ciorbă de văcuţă (Beef Soup)
Obviously a soup which can be found in a lot of countries from all around the world. However, the Romanian version is unique due to the usage of a souring agent (yes, we like our soups sour!), which gives it a special flavour and a savour that you cannot encounter anywhere else.
There are many ways to cook it, but here is an accessible recipe.

10. Supă cu găluşte (Clear chicken soup with dumplings)
Finally a soup by all international definitions. Including the Romanian one. Classical soup, with nothing sour in it, but with those absolutely lovely semolina dumplings instead. Adored by everyone, this soup has multiple health benefits, being the best (and most delicious) cure for colds.
Here is the recipe for the Romanian dumpling soup.

So that was it about Romanian soups. I tried to keep it to a bare minimum, but there is much more out there then just these 10 examples. Romanians take pride in their soups, and traditionally, they consume them every day. But since I cannot possible write about them all, I suggest you to go and try them out for yourselves. And trust me, you will not regret it!

3 comments:

  1. This is awesome! My Grandma Bella came to the states in about 1917 from Romania and she was an amazing cook. I am going to try some of these recipes! Thanks! Wendy

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  2. They look delicious even though I do not eat soup. I am a very picky person. thanks for sharing.

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  3. very delicious and fish soup looks like Russian soup "yxa" :)

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