SUAD SHALLAL'S IRAQI LENTIL SOUP WITH MEATBALLS
This recipe came to The Times in a 2004 article about iftar, the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, the monthlong Muslim holiday during which observers abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Soup, like this hearty, spiced lentil soup with meatballs and angel hair pasta, is a common iftar meal as it provides substantial nutrition as well as plenty of hydration. It is adapted from a recipe belonging to Suad Shallal, who moved with her family from Iraq to the United States, in 1966. It was served at her son Andy's restaurant, Mimi's American Bistro in downtown Washington, each day during Ramadan. (The restaurant is now closed.) Mrs. Shallal's recipe calls for ground allspice, but feel free to experiment with other spices found in Middle Eastern cooking like cumin, coriander, cardamom and turmeric. And don't forget to taste and season with salt as you go.
Provided by Joan Nathan
Categories pastas, soups and stews, appetizer
Time 45m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Place half the onions and the ground meat, parsley, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and allspice in a medium mixing bowl. Blend ingredients, and form into balls the size of walnuts. Turn onto the baking pan.
- Bake for 10 minutes, remove from pan, and drain on a paper towel. In a soup pot, sauté remaining onions in olive oil over medium heat until golden. Add chicken broth and bring to boil.
- Pick any stones from over lentils, place in bowl, cover with cold water, and drain. Add them to soup, turn heat to low, and simmer slowly for about 20 minutes or until lentils are almost tender.
- Crumble angel hair pasta into soup, along with carrots and meatballs. Simmer slowly for another 5-10 minutes or until lentils and noodles are cooked, adding more chicken broth or water as needed. Just before serving, squeeze lemon into soup.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 543, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 59 grams, Fat 19 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 33 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 1116 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 1 gram
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love
Rose Benjamin
[email protected]This soup is a great way to use up leftover rice. I added some cooked rice to the soup and it turned out great.
Nezaam Davidson
[email protected]I made this soup in my slow cooker and it turned out great. It's a great way to have a delicious meal without a lot of effort.
Ji 9sl
[email protected]This soup is very hearty and filling. It's perfect for a cold winter day.
safa islam
[email protected]I'm not a big fan of lentils, but this soup was actually really good. The meatballs were especially flavorful.
Alex Hildreth
[email protected]This soup is a bit spicy for my taste, but I still enjoyed it. Next time, I'll use less cayenne pepper.
Rafiq Taib
[email protected]I added some chopped cilantro to the soup at the end of cooking. It added a nice fresh flavor.
Enjoy All Time
[email protected]This soup is a great make-ahead meal. I made it on a Sunday and it lasted me all week for lunch.
njoki freshia
[email protected]I'm a vegetarian, so I omitted the meatballs from the recipe. The soup was still very flavorful and satisfying.
Fareed Khokhar
[email protected]This soup is very easy to make and it's a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables.
Aabdul Jalil
[email protected]I made this soup for a dinner party and it was a hit! Everyone loved the unique flavor and the meatballs were a big hit.
Mulualem Teshager
[email protected]This soup is a great way to use up leftover lentils. I added some chopped carrots and celery to the soup, and it turned out great.
Fj Game And App Review In Home
[email protected]I'm not usually a fan of lentil soup, but this recipe changed my mind. The meatballs add a great flavor and texture, and the soup is very hearty and filling.
Mariah Flores
[email protected]This lentil soup is absolutely delicious! The meatballs are so flavorful and the lentils are cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this again.