Spicy Georgian beef soup
This is a richly flavoured soup that is wonderfully spicy. It makes a really filling lunch or substantial dinner.
Ingredients
For the stock
- 800g/1lb 12oz 5oz Jacob’s ladder (beef short ribs, cut into individual ribs) or beef shin
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 2 onions, thinly sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 5 black peppercorns
- 2 dried chillis
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the soup
- 1 tsp khmeli-suneli (Georgian spice mix)
- 1 tsp coriander seeds, lightly toasted
- pinch saffron
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú white long-grain rice
- 1 beef tomato (skin removed and discarded), grated
- 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 4 small garlic cloves, peeled
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú walnuts, toasted and chopped into small pieces
- sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander, to garnish
- 2 tbsp finely chopped purple (or regular) fresh basil, to garnish
- 6 slices sourdough bread
Method
For the stock, season the beef well with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meat on all sides. Place the beef in a large saucepan or casserole and cover with cold water (approximately 3 litres/5¼ pints). Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour. During cooking, skim off any scum that forms on the top of the stock. Add the onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and coriander seeds and cook for another 30–60 minutes, or until the meat is starting to fall apart and is very tender. Skim any scum from the surface of the stock again.
Remove the bay leaf and peppercorns from the stock with a slotted spoon. Remove the beef from the stock with a slotted spoon, discard the bones and cut the beef into small pieces. Return the beef pieces to the stock.
For the soup, add the chillies, saffron, carrot and rice to the stock in the saucepan and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomato and pomegranate molasses and cook for another 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Bash the garlic with a pinch of sea salt flakes using a pestle and mortar. Add the walnuts and pound until it turns into a paste. Add the paste to the soup and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the soup is thick. Garnish with the coriander and basil and serve in warmed bowls with the sourdough bread.
