Spicy Yogurt and Herb Soup (Booshala)
An Assyrian soup called "booshalah." This creamy yogurt and herb soup is the perfect soup to nurse you back to health!
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 213kcal
Ingredients
- 4 cups home-made yogurt (or store-bought Greek yogurt)
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. citric acid
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 egg
- 1 cup Swiss chard
- 1 cup purslane
- 4 cups water
- ½ cup Italian parsley
- ½ cup cilantro
- ½ large green pepper
- 2 jalapeno peppers
- 1 medium onion
- ¼ cup jasmine rice
- 1 tsp. dried mint
Instructions
- Whisk yogurt, salt, citric acid, flour, and egg in a large bowl.
- Wash and chop the Swiss chard, and the purslane, and add to a deep bowl.
- Pour enough boiling water over the Swiss chard and purslane to completely submerge. After five minutes, drain the water and rinse the Swiss chard and purslane with cold water. Squeeze to remove the excess water.
- Chop the parsley, cilantro, green peppers, jalapeños, and onion.
- Gradually add four cups of water into the yogurt. Whisk until thoroughly mixed.
- Stir the Swiss chard, purslane, and the remaining herbs and vegetables into the yogurt.
- Finally, add the rice into the soup.
- Stir constantly, over a medium flame, until the mixture comes to a boil. If you don't, it will separate.
- Stir occasionally during cooking, until all the vegetables and the rice are tender. If it becomes too thick, add more water to achieve the preferred consistency.
- Booshala may be served hot or cold. I prefer hot! Not only when it comes to spiciness, but also in temperature!
Notes
- First, I highly recommend that you make this soup with home-made yogurt (Mesta, in Assyrian). However, if you prefer to use store-bought yogurt, make sure to use Middle Eastern or Greek yogurt.
- The key is to use a slightly sour-tasting yogurt. You will notice that most of the remaining ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. Well, with the exception of purslane.
- Booshala may be served hot or cold. I prefer hot! Not only when it comes to spiciness, but also in temperature!
Nutrition
Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 417mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g