Turkmen Chuchvara Soup
A hearty and flavorful soup featuring small, delicate dumplings (chuchvara) filled with seasoned meat, simmered in a rich broth. Often served with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.
🧂 Ingredients
- 300 g All-purpose flour
- 1 large Egg
- 50 ml Water(approximate, for dough)
- 1 tsp Salt(divided)
- 300 g Ground lamb or beef
- 1 medium Onion(finely chopped)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
- 1.5 liters Beef or lamb broth
- 2 medium Carrots(diced)
- 2 medium Potatoes(diced)
- 2 tbsp Fresh dill or parsley(chopped, for garnish)
- for serving Sour cream or yogurt
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Make the dumpling dough: Combine flour and 0.5 tsp salt. Whisk egg and water, then gradually add to flour, mixing until a firm dough forms. Knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth. Cover and let rest for 20 minutes.
- 2
Prepare the filling: Mix ground meat, finely chopped onion, black pepper, and remaining 0.5 tsp salt. Ensure it's well combined.
- 3
Roll out the dough very thinly. Cut into small squares (about 1.5 inches). Place a small amount of filling in the center of each square. Fold the dough over to form a triangle, then bring the two bottom corners together and pinch to seal, creating small dumplings.
- 4
In a large pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add diced carrots and potatoes. Cook for about 10 minutes until vegetables are slightly tender.
- 5
Carefully add the prepared chuchvara dumplings to the boiling broth. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until they float to the surface and are cooked through.
- 6
Simmer for another 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- 7
Ladle the soup and dumplings into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped dill or parsley and serve hot with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Don't overfill the dumplings, as they can burst during cooking.
- ✓Ensure the dough is thin enough for delicate dumplings.
- ✓The broth can be made from scratch or use good quality store-bought broth.
- ✓You can freeze uncooked chuchvara for later use.
🔄 Variations
- Add a bay leaf to the broth for extra aroma.
- Include other vegetables like bell peppers or peas.
- For a vegetarian version, use a mushroom and vegetable filling.