Starting today I am doing a month long marathon with “Around the world in 30 days with international ABC cooking” as the theme. Every day I will be posting a recipe from a country in alphabetical order. For first day, I chose Algeria for country starting with A. Today’s recipe is shorba frik, a soup that is usually prepared during the holy month of Ramadan and is eaten after breaking the fast. This is a popular soup in the Middle East and is known by various names. It is interesting to note that I started my last mega marathon, Indian Food Odyssey with haleem, which is also prepared during the month of Ramadan. In fact, shorba frik is similar to haleem but like haleem, this shorba does not call for as many lentils. This shorba is prepared by cooking together the meat and green wheat to make this flavorful soup.
Freekeh or green wheat is harvest when the grain is yellow and moist. It is processed by sun drying, burning the straw and chaff, and then thrashed. It is the thrashing or rubbing process of the grain that gives it the name farik meaning rubbed in Arabic. This grain has low glycemic index, rich in protein and fiber. To know more about this green wheat or freekah, check their website. I could not find freekah and used coarse cracked wheat.
Adapted: Asmaa's recipe who did a guest post for Lubna
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
- 358 gm Goat Meat (211 gm Bones + 147 gm Boneless Meat)
- 1 – 1 ½ tbsp. Oil (I used 1 ½ tbsp. but felt 1 tbsp. or even less would have been sufficient)
- ½ small Red Onion chopped (I used red but any variety would work)
- 4 cloves Garlic chopped
- ½ tsp. Chili Powder or Paprika
- 1 tbsp. Tomato Paste
- ½ tsp. Black Pepper
- 1 tsp. Salt (adjust to taste. I do not remember if I added 1 tsp. or 1 ¼ tsp.)
- 2 ½ - 3 cups Water or Vegetable Stock (I used water as I used meat with bones)
- 2 tbsp. Freekeh (green wheat) (I used coarse cracked wheat as I could not find freekeh)
- Few Chickpeas cooked approx. 2 – 3 tbsp.
- 2 tbsp. Coriander ~ Cilantro ~ Kotmir chopped
Preparation:
- I used a pressure cooker but a stock pot can be used. In a 3 liter/quart pressure cooker heat oil and fry onion until translucent.
- Add garlic and fry for a minute.
- Add meat and continue frying until the meat is nicely browned, about 3 - 4 minutes.
- Add tomato puree or paste and cook for 2 minutes stirring it frequently.
- Add chili powder, salt, black pepper powder and cook for a minute stirring it regularly.
- Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 7-8 whistles on high and 5-7 minutes on low heat or until meat is very tender. Turn off the heat and let the pressure subside by itself. If using a sauce pan or stock pan, cook for almost an hour until the meat is tender.
- Remove the boneless meat pieces from the shorba, shred and keep aside. I followed this step but felt I could have skipped it.
- Add freekeh or cracked wheat to shorba and simmer for 26 – 30 minutes.
- Remove the bones, let it cool, add coriander leaves and run it in a blender for 10 seconds. My shorba was hot and I did not want to wait for it cool. I added coriander leaves and used my immersion blender.
- Add chickpeas, shredded meat and simmer shorba for few minutes. If the shorba is very thick, add ½ - 1 cup of water and then simmer it.
- Serve the shorba hot with some lemon wedges. My tomato paste gave the shorba required sourness and did not feel the need to add any lemon juice.
Suggestions:
- I used bones and meat when cooking the shorba. An alternative to this is to use already cooked meat. In which case, use stock or water and skip steps 6 - 7. Add freekeh and cook for 30 minutes until cooked.
- This shorba can be made without meat. In that case skip step 6 & 7, and add more chickpeas or as desired to the shorba.
Gayathri Kumar says
Never heard of freekah. the soup looks very nice..
Ammaji Kitchen{Sree} (@sreevallie) says
Great dish with lovely pictures..
Suma Gandlur says
That must be a hearty dish and looking forward to your dishes this marathon.
Priya Srinivasan says
Love that deep color the dish has!!!
Sarita says
Great recipe.. Though I'm not participating this time.. A great way to learn different recipes around the world.superb pics..
Pavani says
I bought Freekah from Costco a while back, but like you said looks and tastes very very similar to cracked wheat. Shorba looks hearty. Looking forward to your creations this month Usha.
Priya says
I want to have a bowl of this shorba frik, such a comforting soup while the weather is down like we are having today.
themadscientistskitchen says
Now the picture mystery is out. Wow this is an awesome soup. Generally I do not read non veg recipes for i do not know the flavours that give the taste it has( and I am drooling a lot Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!) but this time I did and loved it.
Chef Mireille says
what a flavorful soup. You should have asked me - I could have brought you some freekeh
MySpicyKitchen says
The website I checked said Whole Food in my area carries it. I was all prepared to cook it that day only to be disappointed that the store doesn't carry it as listed on the website. Since I was all prepared to make it that day, I went ahead with cracked wheat. I should have asked you where I could get it.
cookingwithsapana says
Pictures looks stunning Usha , wonderful choice for the start . Looking forward to see more recipes...
Pradnya says
green wheat in my home town is used to make the first kheer and then harvested further...i was always interested in tasting the haleem dish and wish to do it some day...having heard so much about it...i loved your clicks and the dish is so inviting...
Harini says
Stunning pictures, Usha
PJ says
Pics looks stunning as usual.And nice soup too 🙂
Padma Rekha says
Wow lovely pic Usha and same pinch nice choice of the soup and what do mean green wheat? is it wheat grass?
MySpicyKitchen says
Padma, green wheat is not wheat grass. Green wheat is similar to wheat only difference being green wheat is wheat harvest when the grain is still young and green. Check this link for more details about green wheat. I will include this link even in the post. I have not seen green wheat as I could not find it the near by stores. http://www.greenwheatfreekeh.com/
Asmaa says
So glad you liked the recipe and made it your own, i have never eaten goat but i imagine it would be delicious in this soup and it definitely looks that way!
Varada says
Great pictures Usha! A good start to the mega marathon.
Kalyani says
Green wheat is new .. Lovely clicks Usha
foodiliciousnan says
I too was inspired by this post and had bookmarked this recipe for A. But since frikkeh isn't avbl in India I thought it better to not do it. The pic is so simple, yet elegant! Love your setting!
Vaishali Sabnani says
As always I am a fan of the clicks...and nice country choicce..
Srivalli says
Oh now we know what that bowl was..:)..very nicely shot Usha..