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Shurpa-Шурпа на костре

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shurpa

Shurpa is the most popular Uzbek soup that take special place in national culinary of Uzbek cuisine.Although there is many different recipes of shurpa, but the base ingredients are the same consisting of meat,potatoes and vegetables with various spices and aromatic herbs.Shurpa is a hearty soup that can be cooked on stove or on the fire.Cooking it on the fire is my families favorite,it adds a smoky flavor to the soup which makes it taste hundred times better.My mom and dad are pros on that.Dad is always in charge of controlling the fire and mixing the ingredients, and mom cooks the soup.It’s cooked in a large cast iron pot (kazan).Cooking it in regular pot will make a difference in taste and wont taste the same.This recipe serves a fairly big crowd, around 15-20 people and usually they’ll ask for seconds but you can cut all ingredients by half if you don’t need that much.This recipe came from my mom who always get requests to cook it for parties,special occasions and of course the family.The images are for shurpa on the fire, but the steps are the same to cook it on the stove.Just cut the ingredients by half.

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            Prepare the firepit.Place the pot on top.Heat it really well.Add oil.When the oil is hot, throw in the meat and mix.

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Continue to mix….

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until the meat is well browned.

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Add onions.Mix.Add carrots and continue to mix.

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Throw in bell pepper and continuing to mix.

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Add tomato sauce,salt,black pepper,paprika,cumin and red pepper flakes(optional) and continue to mix and cook for 3-5 min.

Add garlic,bay leaves,and water.Bring to a boil then reduce heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes.

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Throw in potatoes….

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And add more water if needed to cover potatoes all the way.

Simmer for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are done.

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Throw in all the fresh herbs and mix.

Serve in a bowl with crusty bread or Uzbek lepeshka(flat bread).

For leftover shurpa,transfer to regular pot and refrigerate when cooled.

Shurpa-Шурпа на костре

Ingredients

  • 4-5 lbs. lamb and beef.(preferably ribbed lamb like chops,ribblets,small shanks and stew meat.For beef I use tri tip or chuck).
  • 7 medium russet potatoes peeled and cut in half*
  • 7 medium yellow or yukon potatoes peeled and cut in half*
  • 3 large onions chopped
  • 2-3 carrots peeled and cut in rounds.
  • 2 green bell peppers julienned
  • 2 red bell peppers julienned
  • 8 ozs.tomato sauce or tomato puree.(I use half of each)
  • 10-12 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup oil
  • About 7.5 quarts water +/-
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes(optional)
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 cup chopped dill
  • 1 cup chopped basil**
  • 1 cup chopped parsley
  • Salt and pepper(for salt I used 3 tablespoons of pink Himalayan salt)
  • * If potatoes are too big,slice in very thick rounds.
  • **You can use Thai basil also or half cup of each.

Instructions

  1. Prepare fire with wood or heat a cast iron pot on stove.Place the pot on top.
  2. Heat it really well and add oil.
  3. When the oil is hot, throw in the meat and mix.
  4. Continue to mix occasionally until the meat is well browned.
  5. Add onions.Mix.Add carrots and continue to mix.
  6. Throw in bell pepper and continuing to mix.
  7. Add tomato sauce,salt,black pepper,paprika,cumin and red pepper flakes(optional) and continue to mix and cook for 3-5 min.
  8. Add garlic,bay leaves,and water.Bring to a boil then reduce heat and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
  9. Throw in potatoes.
  10. Add more water if needed to cover potatoes all the way.
  11. Simmer for 25-30 minutes or until potatoes are done.
  12. Throw in all the fresh herbs and mix.
  13. Serve in a bowl with crusty bread or Uzbek lepeshka(flat bread).
  14. For leftover shurpa,transfer to regular pot and refrigerate when cooled.
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Pan Fried Homestyle Potatoes

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Pan fried homestyle potatoes (жареная картошка) is very popular and simple comfort food in Russian,Ukrainian, and Belorussian cuisines.You can almost call it national dish.My mom would always prepare it for us when we were growing up.It’s quick,its easy and most of all it’s delicious.You can have it for breakfast with fried eggs,lunch with fresh tomato salad,or dinner with russian style meat patties(Kotleti) or sautéed mushrooms.

Pan Fried Homestyle Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 4-5 russet potatoes,peeled and thick julienned or sliced
  • 1/2 onion sliced
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • salt
  • optional herbs-
  • chopped green onions or chives
  • dill
  • parsley

Instructions

  1. Wash throughly and drain peeled and julienned potatoes.
  2. Season with salt.
  3. Heat a skillet on high heat.
  4. Add oil.
  5. Throw in potatoes.
  6. Stir occasionally.
  7. When potatoes are slightly browned,throw in sliced onions and butter.
  8. Continue to cook the potatoes until softened and evenly browned.*
  9. Transfer fried potatoes to a serving plate and garnish with desired herbs and ketchup.
  10. * If you prefer not really browned potatoes,you will need to cook it under the lid on medium-high heat.
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pan fried homestyle potatoes

 

Uzbek Manti

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Uzbek Manti are steamed dumplings with different variety of fillings like spiced beef,lamb,potato,cabbage,pumpkin and meat with potato.They are very popular in Central Asian cuisines and  came to be famous in Russian cuisine as well.

We made them together with mom very often when I was growing up,and now that I’m married  I still love to get together with mom and sisters and make them as we used to.Its a great way for us to catch up on our talks, have fun and then enjoy this yummy goodness together.My personal favorite filling is beef,or beef mixed with lamb or cabbage.You’ll just love my moms recipe for this dish.They are very juicy,authentic and just the way they should be.

You will need a steamer with sauce pot to steam them.I also make my dough in bread maker .It’s faster and easy.But you can do it by hand as well.

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Ingredients

  • Dough-
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 eggs
  • 5 1/2 cups flour (I used canadian)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Beef or lamb filling-
  • Ground or minced beef tri tip/ground lamb
  • 4 onions diced
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 3/4 cup water
  • Cabbage-
  • 1/2 head cabbage shredded
  • 2 onions diced/chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Potato*-
  • 6-8 potatoes cubed (small)
  • 3-4 onions diced/chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • *add ground meat if using meat with potatoes filling.
  • 1 stick melted butter
  • sour cream if desired

Instructions

  1. If using a bread maker for the dough,just throw in all the ingredients and click on the dough setting.
  2. press cancel and take it out before the bread maker will start to heat up.
  3. You can make the dough using a stand mixer with a hook attachment or using hands.
  4. Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes.
  5. Filling-
  6. Mix all the ingredients well.
  7. Fill the steam pot with water and bring to a boil.
  8. Cut a long piece of dough from the side.Roll it in to a long log.
  9. Cut the dough in to 1 inch pieces.Dip and press both sides of pieces into flour.
  10. Roll it out into thin rounds either using a rolling pin or pasta maker.
  11. Place the filling in the middle
  12. Pinch opposite sides together.
  13. Place them on a well buttered steamer disk.
  14. Place on the top of boiling steamer pot.Reduce heat to medium.
  15. Cook for 40 minutes.
  16. Place cooked manti on a serving plate.
  17. Pour melted butter on top and enjoy with green tea! (by Uzbek tradition)
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Baby Dutch Potatoes with Onions and Dill

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Baby Dutch Potatoes with Onions and dill

Ingredients

  • Yellow dutch potatoes*
  • 1 large onion chopped or thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 sticks salted butter (about 10-12 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • fresh chopped dill
  • salt
  • *You can substitute for red potatoes,yukon,or russet potatoes(peeled). Make sure to slice the potatoes in half or fourths.

Instructions

  1. Place washed potatoes in a cooking pot.Fill pot with water to cover potatoes.Bring to a boil and season with salt.Reduce heat to low. Cook until the potatoes are tender.
  2. In a skillet or saute pan,Heat oil and butter on medium heat.Add onions and saute until caramelized and golden brown in color.
  3. Turn off the heat and mix in chopped dill.
  4. Drain the potatoes and transfer to a serving dish.
  5. Pour sauteed onions with butter over the potatoes and serve.
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Mashed Potatoes

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Mashed potatoes are very easy to make and all time favorite at gatherings.There are many ways you can make it, starting from just plain and to adding more flavor like with garlic,chives,cheese and so on.I usually use milk and lots of butter, and sometime I use cream or mascarpone cheese.

Ingredients:

8 potatoes peeled,cut in half
1 stick butter sliced (1 1/2 if not using mascarpone)
2/3 cup warm milk
1 tbsp Mascarpone cheese (optional)
salt
bay leaf
chopped chives (optional)
1 crushed garlic (optional)

 

Directions:

Place potatoes in a pot, and bring to a boil.

Add salt and bay leaf. Reduce to low.

Cook until potatoes are done.

Drain the water,discard bay leaf.

Using hand mixer,beat the potatoes for about 1 minute.

Add 3/4 butter and mascarpone.

Beat again for 1-2 minutes.

Add milk.

Beat again until well combined.

Throw in chives and garlic.

Add butter on top. Mix when serving.

Cold Summer Soup ”Okroshka”

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okroshka
”Okroshka” is a cold soup of diced vegetables and bologna combined with liquid like kvass, diluted kefir, or diluted sour cream and plain yogurt. It’s usually  served during summer hot weather days. My family favorite is with sour cream and plain yogurt, and sometimes with homemade kvass and mayonnaise added when serving.
Ingredients:
3 hard boiled eggs diced
1 big  or 2 small russet potatoes cooked with skin,peeled and diced
¾ pound Russian style bologna diced (or regular bologna)
5-6 radishes cut in half and thinly sliced
½ of English cucumber diced
5 stalks green onion finely chopped
good amount of baby dill chopped
6 cups cold boiled water
2 ½  cups sour cream
16 oz plain yogurt or kefir
salt
Directions:
In a pot combine all diced and chopped ingredients. Add sour cream,yogurt ,salt and water. Mix well. Keep it cold in a fridge.

Cold Summer Soup ”Okroshka”

Ingredients

  • 3 hard boiled eggs diced
  • 1 big or 2 small russet potatoes cooked with skin,peeled and diced
  • ¾ pound Russian style bologna diced (or regular bologna)
  • 5-6 radishes cut in half and thinly sliced
  • ½ of English cucumber diced
  • 5 stalks green onion finely chopped
  • good amount of baby dill chopped
  • 6 cups cold boiled water
  • 2 ½ cups sour cream
  • 16 oz plain yogurt or kefir
  • salt

Instructions

  1. In a pot combine all diced and chopped ingredients. Add sour cream,yogurt ,salt and water. Mix well. Keep it cold in a fridge.
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