Ciorbă de Legume de Primăvară
Spring Vegetable Soup
A light and vibrant Romanian soup bursting with fresh spring vegetables, often soured with lemon or vinegar. It's a celebration of seasonal produce.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 2 medium Carrots(diced)
- 2 medium Celery stalks(diced)
- 2 medium Potatoes(peeled and diced)
- 150 g Green beans(trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 100 g Peas(fresh or frozen)
- 1 medium Zucchini(diced)
- 150 g Asparagus(trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 1.5 liters Vegetable broth
- 0.5 cup Dill(fresh, chopped)
- 0.25 cup Parsley(fresh, chopped)
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice(or to taste)
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
- Sour cream or yogurt(for serving (optional))
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- 2
Add diced carrots and celery to the pot. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 3
Stir in diced potatoes, green beans, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
- 4
Add peas, zucchini, and asparagus to the pot. Continue to simmer for another 5-7 minutes, until vegetables are tender-crisp.
- 5
Stir in fresh dill and parsley. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Add lemon juice for a touch of acidity.
- 6
Ladle the soup into bowls. Serve hot, optionally with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Use a variety of fresh, seasonal vegetables for the best flavor.
- ✓Don't overcook the vegetables; they should remain slightly crisp.
- ✓Adjust the amount of lemon juice to your preference for tartness.
- ✓For a heartier soup, you can add small pasta shapes or rice in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add a bay leaf during simmering for extra depth of flavor.
- Include other spring vegetables like leeks, spinach, or fava beans.
- For a non-vegetarian version, you can use chicken broth and add some shredded cooked chicken.