Croatian Zagorje Potato Soup

This is soup of the poor peasants from Zagorje in Northern Croatia. This was the whole daily meal for families. Now, it becomes “a special gourmet soup” in restaurants all around Zagoje.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 4 portions

Ingredients

• 400  g potatoes
• 150  g  pork ribs (dried, smoked)
• 50  g  wild mushrooms
• 10  g  lard
• 10  g flour
• 4  g red paprika (dried)
• 2  liters water
• 1  bay leaf
• 100  g sour cream
• 2  tablespoons dill (fresh, minced)

Directions

1. Melt lard in a pot and add flour. Fry until become brownish and add paprika.
2. Pour cold water and make it creamy. Make soup removing eventual small flour clods.
3. Cut potato into small cubes and add into soup.
4. Chop mushrooms into leaves and add into soup.
5. Cut dried smoked pork ribs into small pieces and add into soup. You can also use smoked bacon if you do not have pork ribs.
6. Add bay leaf and season the soup.
7. Cook for 1,5 to 2 hours. When potato become soft just squash it a bit to make it more creamy.
8. At the end, before serving, add sour cream and dill.