Traditional Turkish Soup

Traditional Turkish Soup

The taste of traditional Turkish soup is unique, especially some specific flavours that seem a bit exotic to me 🙂

 

Traditional Turkish Soup

If you can travel to Turkey and dine in a Turkish restaurant, you will encounter the distinctive Turkish soups.

These soups are always present on every occasion and are served as an appetizer before the main course.

In certain places, there are even dedicated establishments that exclusively sell Turkish soups.

In Turkish culture, these soups have a long-standing connection with traditional Turkish cuisine, dating back to the Ottoman Empire.

It is believed that consuming soup before a heavy meal allows the stomach to work slowly due to its liquid texture.

There are 9 famous types of soup that are a must-try when you visit Turkey.

 Traditional Turkish Soup 

In Turkish, soup is known as ‘Çorba.’

 

This is term originated from the Persian language, ‘Surba,’ which is a combination of two words meaning ‘Salty’ and ‘Love.’

 

The primary function of this soup is as an appetizer, and sometimes, it serves as an indicator of the overall meal’s taste.

 

If the soup is delicious, the main course is expected to be delightful.

 

There is a wide variety of soup types in Turkey, each differing based on the ingredients used.

 

Most are made from broth, and the broth quality plays a crucial role in determining the final taste of the soup.

 

The broth is usually rich in nutrients, as it is prepared from high-quality ingredients.

 

Traditional Turkish soups, dating back to the Ottoman era, have always been a part of every meal occasion.

 

It is customary to have soup served during every mealtime.

 

There are even idioms in Turkish related to soup, such as ‘drinking soup with your hand to your mouth,’ ‘like soup,’ and ‘being salt in soup.’

 

Turkish traditional soup

Traditional Turkish soups can be categorized based on their main ingredients. Here are some common types:

• Flour and Wheat
• Legumes
• Meats
• Chicken and Other Poultry
• Yoghurt and Milk
• Vegetables

In addition, soups in Turkey are adapted to the seasons.

This is because certain ingredients are available in one season but not in others.

The method and technique of cooking the soup also influence its quality and taste.

 1. Ezogelin Çorbası 

Ezogelin çorbası is a traditional Turkish red lentil soup.

Sometimes people confuse Ezogelin Çorbası with Mercimek Çorbası because both are made from red lentils.

The main difference between these two soups lies in their primary ingredients and preparation methods.

Ezogelin Soup is made with red lentils, onions, tomatoes, bulgur, rice, and mint leaves.

 2. Mercimek Çorbası 

Mercimek Çorbası, or red lentil soup, is a distinctive Turkish soup.

 

It is among the most popular types of soup in Turkey, and you’ll find it in almost every restaurant.

 

This soup is very easy to make with few and inexpensive ingredients, yet it’s highly nutritious.

 

Mercimek Çorbası is made from red lentils, carrots, tomato paste, various spices, and it is characterized by the addition of Aleppo Pepper.

Some variations may include potatoes to give the soup a thicker consistency.

 

Mercimek Çorbası

This Red Lentil Soup is almost always served before the main course is brought out when I eat at restaurants in Turkey.

It’s typically accompanied by salad and pide bread.

 3. Domates Çorbası 

This tomato soup is quite popular everywhere, not just in Turkey.

 

It has a refreshing taste, especially when made with fresh tomatoes.

 

Served with additional slices of cheddar cheese and bread, this soup is a perfect refreshing appetizer.

 4. Yayla Çorbası 

Yayla Çorbası is a homemade soup menu that is often cooked in households because it is very easy to make.

 

It has a refreshing taste and is suitable for those who are unwell.

 

Even for babies and toddlers in Turkey, this soup is often given.

 

It is very refreshing due to the addition of a mixture of mint leaves and hot oil.

 

This soup is popular in Turkey and Central Asia.

 

Traditional Turkish Soup: Yayla Corbasi

This soup is enjoyed both in the summer and winter seasons.

 5. Soğuk Ayranaşı Çorbası 

Soğuk Ayranaşı Çorbası is usually served during the summer.

 

The mixture of bulgur and chickpeas is commonly used as a topping for this type of soup.

 

Soğuk Ayranaşı Çorbası

The dominant flavor of this soup is yogurt. And this soup is usually served with traditional Turkish bread.

 6. Tarhana Çorbası 

Tarhana Soup is one of the oldest known Turkish soups 🙂

 

This classic fiber-rich soup made from a blend of dried fermented vegetables, wheat, various spices and herbs, all mixed into yogurt.

 

Yes, in Turkey, yogurt is indeed used in various dishes.

 

Turkish people prepare the ingredients for this soup at the end of the summer, when the supply of vegetables is abundant.

 

Then, it is stored for use in winter.

 

Summer and autumn are the suitable seasons to start the fermentation process of the Tarhana Soup ingredients, which are then stored for later use.

 

Making Tarhana to welcome the winter season is a common practice among Turkish citizens in the Anatolia region.

 

Turkish Soup: Tarhana

The taste of Tarhana Soup can vary slightly in different regions of Turkey.

As this is a classic and vintage soup, Tarhana Soup is truly Turkish.

It’s not complete if you haven’t tried Tarhana Soup yet.

 6. İşkembe Çorbası 

İşkembe Çorbası is made from the contents of the cow’s stomach and eaten with a mixture of vinegar, garlic, and lemon juice.

 

This soup has been around since the Ottoman period and is often served during the celebration of Eid al-Adha.

This soup is considered very nutritious and is also suitable to be served for sick people.

However, not everyone likes this type of soup, as not everyone likes tripe.

Moreover, the strong flavour and aroma of garlic in this soup can be overwhelming.

As a result, it is somewhat rare to find this soup in Turkish restaurants, as it is mostly cooked as a home-cooked dish.

 7. Düğün çorbası 

 

Wedding soup or Dugun Çorbası is also a traditional Turkish soup that is often served during wedding ceremonies, especially the traditional ones.

 8. Şehriyeli Tavuklu Çorbası 

 

Next is Şehriyeli Tavuklu Çorbası or Chicken and Vermicelli Soup.

 

This soup is also often served for the sick.

 

The strong chicken broth with a mix of Vermicelli pasta is believed to have healing properties and is also very satisfying.

 

It’s somewhat like chicken soup with vermicelli, similar to soto with rice vermicelli in Indonesia.

Here’s a photo of the soup.

 

This soup is also often served in every household when winter arrives.

It is a soup menu commonly offered in restaurants during the winter season.

 9. Sup Collard Green 

Collard Green Soup (Lahana Çorbası) is a traditional Turkish soup for those living in the northern Black Sea region.

It is frequently cooked by people in that area, especially when winter arrives.

If you go to a restaurant in the Black Sea region, this soup is sure to be on the menu.

It is usually served with a piece of cornbread.

This soup is very healthy as it contains a lot of collard greens. Familiar with collard greens?

It’s similar to kale but not kale. I don’t know what it’s called in Indonesian, but it’s like a mix of kale, mustard greens, and cabbage 🙂

  Traditional Turkish Soup Review 

Finally, I have completed our discussion on various types of Turkish soups.

Indeed, soups are commonly served in Turkey before the main meal.

The most popular one is the red lentil soup.

So, make sure to try the red lentil soup if you go to Turkey.

It has a unique taste.

Although it looks light and watery, this soup is quite filling and satisfying.

Don’t finish it all if your main meal portion is small, so you won’t be too full when it’s time to enjoy the main course. Save some room!

Traditional Turkish Soup

Turkey, June 2019