Vegetarian Kharcho (Spicy Georgian Soup)

Anya's Note:

This is a spicy, hearty Georgian soup. It is traditionally made with meat, but I adapted a vegetarian version from a Georgian cookbook. It calls for the khmeli-suneli spice mix, of which there are as many varieties as there are cooks who make it themselves. The khmeli-suneli spice mix is available from Russian food stores, or can be mixed to your own taste. One recipe of this mix is <a href="http://www.recipezaar.com/Khmeli-Suneli-Spice-Mix-from-Georgia-289998">Khmeli-suneli spice mix from Georgia</a>.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 6.0 bowls o ...

• 1 onion , chopped
• 20 g butter
• 100 g walnuts , finely chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup rice
• 6 cups water
• 2 garlic cloves , crushed
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 ½ tablespoons hot spice blend (khmeli-suneli)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cilantro , chopped
• 3 tablespoons dill , chopped
• 3 tablespoons parsley , chopped

Directions:

1. Sautee the onion in butter until soft but not yet brown.
2. Add water, walnuts, half cilantro, garlic, pepper flakes, and rice. Bring to boil,
3. Add crushed tomatoes, bring to boil and lower the heat. Cook until the rice is ready, approximately 30 minutes.
4. Add khmeli-suneli and salt. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
5. Take off the heat. Add the rest of cilantro, dill, and parsley.

Reviews

[Bzi]

This was a really tasty soup. I seared 2 pieces of beef osso bucco when cooking the onions when continued as per the recipe. It was tasty but needed much more salt than the recipe stated. I think a little less rice would have been better also because it became really really thick once the rice had expanded. I'll definitely be making this again though, great for winter. PS I got my Khmeli-Suneli spice mix when we were in Tbilisi (Georgia).