Croatian Sour Soup Recipes

CROATIAN SOUR SOUP

Steps:

• Simmer potato in salted water until tender but firm.
• Drain and set aside, covered.
• Saute the onions and paprika in the oil, add the garlic and saute for a few minues more.
• Mix in the fennel, bay leaf, carrots, parsnips and celery, saute for 5 minutes, stirring.
• Sift the flour ino the vegetables and simmer on low heat for a few minutes, stirring.
• Add the salt, black pepper, vinegar and vegetable stock.
• Simmer for 10 minutes then stir in the potatoes and sauerkraut.
• Garnish each bowl with sour cream or chives, serve with black bread or marbled rye.

CROATIAN CABBAGE SOUP WITH PORK

Steps:

• Trim and debone pork, retain bones, cut meat into bite size strips, rinse away bone fragments and pat dry.
• In large soup pan, sauté garlic in half of the olive oil until hot.
• Remove pan from heat to add pork bones and meat to hot oil. Sear meat and bones on med-high heat until juices flow, scraping and turning to evenly brown (Approximately 10 minutes).
• Add shredded cabbage, along with remaining olive oil. Stir continuously and cook until cabbage wilts and caramelizes slightly. (Approximately 15 min.).
• Add broth and spices and bring to a boil. Stir well and reduce heat to low. Simmer for approximately 1 to 2 hours (to desired tenderness).
• Remove bones and serve immediately (or refrigerate and reheat).

CROATIAN MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• If you use dried mushroom soak in water them before use about 10-15 minute.
• On a melted lard sauté onion and bacon until it is soft. Add flour and sauté until the flour is brown, add very little paprika and after 30 sec. add cold water and stir to prevent coagulation.
• Add all the mushroom you have, salt, pepper and potato sliced in small cubes. Add water (cca 1 liter) and cook 1,5 hour (if water evaporate add some more).
• At the end add sour cream and parsley. REMEMBER all mushrooms are eatable, some of them only once!

CROATIAN ZAGORJE POTATO SOUP

Steps:

• Melt lard in a pot and add flour. Fry until become brownish and add paprika.
• Pour cold water and make it creamy. Make soup removing eventual small flour clods.
• Cut potato into small cubes and add into soup.
• Chop mushrooms into leaves and add into soup.
• 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.
• Add bay leaf and season the soup.
• Cook for 1,5 to 2 hours. When potato become soft just squash it a bit to make it more creamy.
• At the end, before serving, add sour cream and dill.

CROATIAN SARMA SOUP (STUFFED CABBAGE SOUP)

Steps:

• Cook turkey bacon in frying pan until crisped, remove from pan to drain on paper towels. Crumble and set aside.
• Add ground beef to pan and brown in turkey bacon drippings until almost cooked through.
• Add diced onion and cook 4-5 minutes until onions are transparent.
• Add garlic and cook an additional 1-2 minutes.
• Drain meat mixture on paper towel lined plate.
• Place all ingredients, including meat mixture and turkey bacon, in a large pot and cook over medium heat until it boils. Turn heat down and cook for at least one hour, stirring occasionally. Add a little water if it gets too thick for your liking. I cook mine 2-3 hours.