15 Minute Chourba Express | Algerian Ramadan Soup { QUICK AND EASY RAMADAN RECIPE }

بِسْــــــــــــــــــــــمِ اﷲِارَّحْمَنِ ارَّحِيم

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

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Ramadan is just about 8 days away . As we've been preparing this the most blessed and waited guests by preparing ourselves, our homes and even our kitchens. During Ramadan, fasting is done from sunrise to sunset to teach you patience, discipline, and empathy for others who aren’t as fortunate. Each day the fast ends with prayer, followed by a meal called iftar.  And the fast is usually broken with dates and a sip of water, juice or milk. The meal is centered around a nourishing soup. Eating soups during Ramadan is a tradition all over the Muslim world. Soup start off the  meal by replenishing the fluids lost in your body while fasting during the day. It also prepares your digestive system for the rest of the meal and helps maintain a healthy digestive system. In addition, soup is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which are essential for the body, especially during Ramadan as it stays for a long period of the day without food.

Soup or how it's called in Algerian Arabic "chourba" is a traditional part of the Ramadan table to ready the stomach for the rest of the meal. But also is used as a cheap and reliable stand-by soup other times of the year. Chourba is one of those dishes that takes hours of slow-cooking. Time not everyone has. No reason to miss out Chourba during Ramdan when you can have a bowl done and in the table in about 15 minutes. All without the muss and fuss of hours in the kitchen.  So you can get iftar on the table for your entire family QUICK after a long day at work! 

For this recipe: I've used a pressure cooker so the soup can cook only in 15 minutes or less. If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can prepare this soup in a heavy bottom soup pot, cast iron pot or even a Earthenware pot. But be aware the cooking time will vary. Optionally, you replace the wheatberries with other grains or pastas like mhamsa, pastina, orzo, rice, vermicelli, or pearl barley ... just about any grain you like works in this soup. But remember it needs to be added into the pressure cooker to cook and cooking time may vary. I've used pre-soaked and pre-cooked chickpeas that I usually have stored in my freezer. You've shared the benefits and method how to use dry beans here but you can surely use canned chickpeas if you that's easiest for you.

And on a side note, ever wonder what Ramadan looks like to a non-Muslim? If yes,  check out this blog !

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{ 15 minute Chourba EXPRESS }

 ALGERIAN ramadan 

A super quick throw together algerian - ramadan soup that you can have cooked and on the table in about 15 minutes.   

SERVING

YIELD: serves 4-6
ACTIVE PREP TIME: 2-3 mins 

INACTIVE PREP TIME:0 mins

COOK TIME: 12-15 mins

EQUIPMENT

KNIFE,  blender, CUTTING BOARD, pressure cooker, WOODEN SPOON  

۞ = SUBSTITUTIONS

. 

INGREDIENTS

• 300g - ½ lb ground meat ( I used ground turkey) ۞
• 2-3 TBS mild oil olive or melted butter 
• 1 large onion
• 1 large carrot
• 1 medium courgette/zuchinni
• 2 large ripe tomatoes
• 2 TBS tomato paste
• 2 L - 2qt chicken stock ۞
• 1 TBS corn starch (also called corn flour, maizena) + 3 TBS water
• 125g - ½ precooked chickpeas 
• half bunch fresh parsely, leaves and stems (about one generous handful - ½ cup packed)
• half bunch fresh cilantro/coriander, leaves and stems (about one generous handful - ½ cup packed)
• 1 tsp salt
•  ½ tsp saffron powder
•  ½ tsp sweet paprika
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp black pepper (or to taste)
• 50g - ½ cup dry quick cooking wheat berries (I used Ebly brand since they cooked in about 10 minutes or less)

METHOD

USING a knife core the tomatoes and remove the center.

PLACE the onion, tomato, herbs, tomatoes, carrot and courgette in a blender. Blend until smooth. 

ADD the pureed vegetable mixture, oil, , tomato paste and salt to the pressure cooker. Sweat the vegetable mixture in the oil for about 3 minutes, until fragrant. Scrape the brown bits with the wooden spoon and deglaze with the meat stock.

ADD the remaining meat stock, meat, wheat berries, corn starch mixture, chickpeas and spices. Remember to leave the ground meat in chunks and not to break up too much. Close and lock the pressure cooker. Turn up the heat to high and allow to come up to pressure. Cook for 10 minutes at high pressure. 

ONCE the time is up, remove the pressure cooker from the heat and carefully remove the valve to releash the pressure.

TO SERVE 

Serve this with hunks of rustic Algerian bread to mop up every delicious drop. And optional bourek on the side.

KITCHEN TIPS

Storage

This soup will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. And actually tastes better as the flavorings meld. If you were going to serve this at a later time, put the vermicelli in before serving as you reheat the soup. The soup pasta will continue to absorb the liquid from the soap and become over-done and even slimey. 
This soups freezes nicely. Just ladle the remaining soup in freezer-safe container and freeze for up to one month. To reheat, just gently bring back to temperature on the stove on a very low heat. 

Substitute
You can easily use rice, orzo, mhamsa, pastina pasta instead of the store bought vermicelli.

Variation

This version of chourba is more healthier using very lean ground turkey. You could use ground beef or even lamb for more authentic "Algerian taste". Some Algerian cooks  add Ras el Hanount, potatoes and cubanelle or green peppers to their. You can experiement with the flavors by adding these if you like. In my family, my MIL never did so I don't either.

Vegetarian/Vegan

You can easily make this soup vegetarian or vegan by omitting the meat and using a vegetable stock instead - or even water.

Gluten-Free
You can prepare this soup by using a GF corn or rice based pasta, rice or even pearl barley instead of the wheat berries.  Surprisingly, they even sell Gluten-Free soup pasta in Algeria in the pharmacies and larger supermarkets. Or you can omit the grain altogether. 

SAHA F'TOURKOUM! 

 CATEGORIES:  RAMADAN, SOUP, HEALTHY, DIY HOMEMADE

SOURCE:  Heni El G

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To go with this quick and easy express soup, prepare my super fast Algerian Khoubz el Dar Express, paired with a green salad, Algerian Hmiss pepper salad, and a few bourek.

• Looking for more traditional Algeiran soup for Ramadan? Check this Harira from Oran, or this Chourba Frik from Eastern Algeria or this Chourba M'karfta from Alger.
•  Craving something non-Algerian? And quick?  Try this out this summery Mediteranean courgette/zuchinni soup. 
• Soup not your thing? Try a salad. Or browse through some main dishes.
• Or browse through the recipe index to get inspired.

WHAT TYPE OF SOUPS DO YOU LIKE TO ENJOY DURING RAMADAN? 

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