Kazakh Sorpa with Horse Meat
A hearty and nourishing broth made with horse meat, root vegetables, and aromatic spices. This traditional soup is known for its rich flavor and restorative properties.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 kg Horse meat(bone-in, cut into large pieces (e.g., ribs, shank))
- 4 liters Water
- 2 large Onions(quartered)
- 2 medium Carrots(peeled and roughly chopped)
- 3 medium Potatoes(peeled and cut into large chunks)
- 2 stalks Celery stalks(roughly chopped)
- 2 leaves Bay leaves
- 1 tsp Black peppercorns
- to taste Salt
- 1/4 cup Fresh dill(chopped, for garnish)
- 1/4 cup Fresh parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Rinse the horse meat under cold water. Place it in a large stockpot and cover with cold water.
💡 Tip: Starting with cold water helps to draw out impurities and create a clearer broth. - 2
Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Skim off any foam or scum that rises to the surface.
💡 Tip: This step is crucial for a clean-tasting broth. - 3
Add the quartered onions, bay leaves, and peppercorns to the pot. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 2.5 hours, or until the horse meat is very tender.
💡 Tip: The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor of the broth will be. - 4
Remove the meat and onions from the broth. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot, discarding the solids (onions, bay leaves, peppercorns).
- 5
Return the strained broth to a simmer. Add the chopped carrots, potatoes, and celery. Cook for another 30-40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
💡 Tip: Cut vegetables into uniform sizes for even cooking. - 6
While the vegetables are cooking, shred or dice the cooked horse meat. Return the meat to the soup.
- 7
Season the sorpa with salt to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish generously with fresh chopped dill and parsley.
💡 Tip: Horse meat has a distinct flavor; adjust salt carefully.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Horse meat can be challenging to find outside of Central Asia. If unavailable, beef or lamb can be used as a substitute, but the authentic flavor will be different.
- ✓For a richer broth, you can roast the horse meat bones before simmering.
- ✓Serve with traditional Kazakh bread (like 'lep'eshka') for dipping.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a handful of small dumplings (like 'kespe') during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
- Include a whole dried chili pepper for a subtle spicy kick.