Eggplant Soup
Eggplant Soup (also called Ashe Bademjan Malayeri) is a very rich and comforting soup recipe made with eggplants, lentils, chickpeas, shredded beef and spices, and flavoured with fried mint and Persian whey. This soup is perfect for cold days and is one of my family’s favorite soup recipes!
Serve eggplant soup as a main dish with bread or as a light meal alongside a simple salad.
Looking for more soup recipes? Try my Almond Soup made with raw almond and fresh herbs OR Bell Pepper Soup made with fresh veggies and herbs.
Yield: Serves 6
- 3 large eggplants, about 1.5 kg
- 1 cup lentils, picked over to remove any stones
- 3/4 cup chickpeas, picked over to remove any stones
- 300 g stewing beef, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup dried mint
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 5 garlic cloves, chopped
- 3/4 cup Persian whey (Kashk), you can find it at any Iranian store
- turmeric powder
- vegetable oil
- salt & pepper to taste
Soak the chickpeas and lentil in water over night (about 10-15 hours), changing the water couple of times. Then drain and set aside.
In a frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add the dried mint and sauté until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
In a frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add half of the chopped onions and sauté until golden brown. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Set onion-garlic aside.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the rest of chopped onions and sauté until lightly golden.
Increase heat to medium-high; add the beef and cook until brown. Reduce heat to medium and add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric and stir.
Add 3 cups hot water. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat for 30-35 minutes. Add salt and pepper, and cook covered until beef is cooked completely.
Take out the beef and shred into small pieces. Return the shredded beef into liquid and set aside.
Meanwhile peel the eggplants and cut them into 1-inch cubes.
Heat 7 tablespoons oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the eggplants and cook until completely cooked through.
Mash the eggplants with a fork or a potato masher. Then fry for 15 more minutes (add more oil, if needed).
Add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
Place chickpeas and lentils in a large pot. Add 8 cups water. Cover the pot and simmer over medium heat until completely cooked.
Then add the shredded beef (and liquid), mashed eggplants and onion-garlic to the pot.
Cover the pot and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes (add more hot water, if needed).
Add the Persian whey (Kashk) and 2 tablespoons of the fried mint. Cook covered for 45 minutes and until desired thickness.
Adjust seasoning and garnish the eggplant soup with remaining fried mints and serve.
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