How to Make the World's Healthiest Instant Soup: Tarhana

 

Tarhana powder
Tarhana Powder 

Home Made Dried Tarhana (Turkish Traditional Fermented Soup Tarhana)

We know that healthy and nutritious foods are very important for the life of humanbeing in todays world. And we know that healthy and nutrition is the right of everyone, and we try to share healthy homemade meals recipe with you in this blogsite. Winter preparations and fermented foods are very important tasks for the people who live in the region of Mediterranean. Also Winter preparations and fermented foods are very important tasks for the Turks too. We, as Turks have tried to store all kinds of food by drying or fermenting since the ancient times. One of them is "Tarhana Soup". Tarhana is composed mostly of yogurt and as it is nutritious. It can also be stored for a long time since it has the form of dry powder.

In this post, we are going to share our famous instant soup "Home Made Dried Tarhana Powder" with you. It is our very basic and very popular soup and we consume it alot in the winter times. Formerly, we prepared it in summer for the cold winter times. But, today, you can find it markets and grocerries in every time. 

What is Tarhana Soup (Tarhana Powder)?

Tarhana is the basic and very famous soup of the Anotolian Cuisine. Generally, Tarhana's dough is prepared at home. It is made in the summer time for the cold winter months. Its preparing process is a long process but worth it. Because, this fermentation and dried soup mixture can last up to 2-3 years. Also, Tarhana is an really very easy soup. It is believed to be the first ever "instant Soup mix". In Anatolia, as traditionally, mothers or grandmothers make Tarhana and send to their children, grandchildren who live away from the home. 

So " What is Tarhana?": Tarhana is a popular Mediterranean food obtained by drying, grinding and sieving after fermentation of dough that kneaded with flour (wheat flour), plain yogurt, salt and some vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, red peppers and flavoring plant material. After the inventory of Tarhana Soup, it spread to the neighbouring Balkans very fast. It is recognized as "Tarhana" in Turkey, "Trahanas" in Greece, "Talkuna" in Finland, "Tahonya" in Hungary. Also it is known as "Kushuk" in Iraq, "Kishk" in Egypt. 

Tarhana recipe
Homemade Sun Dried Tarhana


History of Tarhana Soup!

Tarhana has a long history. According to historians, Tarhana Soup is the first instant soup in human history. Also, According to historical records, it was first produced by the Turks in Middle Asia and afterward it spread out to different parts of the world. Tarhana Soup or Tarhana Powder is a fermented cereal - based food and can be easily defined as a mixture of yogurt, flour (cereal flours), yeast, different vegetables, herbs, and spices. It has consumed mainly in Anatolian, also in Cyprus and Balkans for nearly 500 years. 

Story of Tarhana Soup

There is a popular story that where the name of "Tarhana - Tarhana Aşı" comes from. According to story; In Era of the Ottoman Empire, one day in the Ramadan Month (Ramadan is the month in the Muslim lunar calendar. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline), Sultan Yavuz Selim decided to travel land and visited one of poor house at "iftar" time (iftar: Evening meal during Ramadan Month). He stopped at a poor peasant's house. Husband and wife villager were really so poor and they had not much to offer to Sultan in their "Darhane" (Darhane:Narrow house). Wife of house quickly prepared some hot soup from her stash of soup mix for the Sultan. Then, She had called it "Darhane" soup, and this story was told over and over in Anatolia. So, the words are close in pronunciation (Darhane -Tarhana), the soup's name turned "Darhane" to "Tarhana". It is also known that "Sultan's Soup".

Tarhana çorbası
How to make Homemade Tarhana


How to Make Home Made Dried Tarhana (Tarhana Soup - Tarhana Powder)

Tarhana Soup is a labour of love and it is the oldest instant soup in the world. And our Tarhana Soup is a tasty, comforting winter soup and is one of the most famous Turkish recipes. In Anatolia, there are many variations to the Tarhana Soup because of ingredients vary by region to region, such as "Maraş Tarhanası, Uşak Tarhanası etc.". But, in this post, we will share a recipe of "Central Anatolian's Tarhanas" with you. Because, we always prepare this Tarhana soup (powder) for the winter. 

Preparation of tarhana powder takes time but it is worth. Recipe is really easy and not complicated but it just takes time. Tarhana soup (powder) is a fermented cereal - based food and can be easily defined as a mixture of yogurt, cereal flours (we mostly use wheat flour), yeast, different vegetables, herbs, and spices. After the mixing process, Tarhana Dough is fermented for 1 to 5 days and then immediately dried. Both lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast fermentation occur simultaneously, during Tarhana powder production. Therefore, Tarhana has sour and acidic taste with yeast flavour as well. It is sun dried at the home made level or oven dried of the comercial level (we always dry it under sun). Several types of Tarhana powder (Tarhana Soup) can be classified depending upon processing method or raw meterials used. Low moisture (6-10%), low pH (3,5-5,0), and components (organic acids, bacteriosin, etc.) Formed in fermentation have bacteriostatic effect on pathogens and spoilage microorganisms during long term storage (2-3 years) and enhance shelf life. Since Tarhana Soup is a good source of B vitamin, minerals, organic acids, and free amino acids, and since it is a product of LAB and yeast fermentation, it may be considered a junctional and probiotic food.    

Tarhana recipe
Ingredients: 3 cups of water and salt (rock salt or sea salt)


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Ingredients: normal size onions and tomatoes


Tarhana dough
Ingredients: red and green peppers


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Ingredients: a bunch of parsley and dill


Tarhana powder
Ingredients: all purpose wheat flour


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Ingredients: plain yogurt


Tarhana recipe
Put water and salt into deep pan and let it boil.


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Then peel onions, wash, chop them into cube size,


Tarhana çorbası
Then add chopped onions into boiling water,


Tarhana dough
Then wash your tomatoes and chop them into cube size


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Then wash your peppers, remove their seeds and chop
Them into cube size, 


Tarhana powder
Then wash your parsley and dill and blend them 
Or chop them very finely


Tarhana dough
Then add all vegetables into boiling water,


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Lastly add chopped parsley and dill into boiling water,


Tarhana recipe
Cook mixture for 40-45 minutes until they are tender, 


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Mix them with Wooden spoon while they are cooking.
Then let it cool, and then pass through a blender  


Tarhana powder
Then pass through a blender or sieve,


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Blended vegetables mixture,


Tarhana recipe
Then add plain yogurt into mixture,


Tarhana çorbası
Then add flour into mixture and knead it for 7-8 minutes


Tarhana dough
Cover mixture and leave it to fermentation for 10 days,
At room tempurature, during this process add a handful flour
 And knead it 3 times a day, everyday,


İngilizce tarhana tarifi
Knead your Tarhana Dough until you reach an elastic dough,


Tarhana dough
Divide the dough into egg-size pieces and place them 
On a clean cloth, 


Tarhana dough
Dried them out in an airy shaded place keeping slidely
Humid, then turn them upside down in the next day.  

Tarhana dough
The other day, cut the pieces into little pieces and
let them dry for 2-3 days more and changing their places,
 




Tarhana dough
Then, rub each piece of dough between the palm of the hands
to make small size grains and again leave to dry


Tarhana powder
Then, Pass through a sieve (or blender)
and repeat the dying process.


Tarhana powder
Spread Tarhana Dough on a towel and
let dry for another 2-3 days.  


Tarhana powder
Then, keep in a glass jar.


Tarhana recipe
This fermentation and dried Tarhana mixture
 can last up to 2-3 years. 


Recipe for Home Made Dried Tarhana (Tarhana Soup - Tarhana Powder)

Here it is the World's Healthiest Instant Soup: Tarhana Powder's recipe; 

Ingredients:
  • - 2 Cups water (1/2 liter/500gr),
  • - 4 Tablespoons Salt (45-50gr), (in this recipe we used rock salt),
  • - 5 Large Onions (500gr- Peel and Chop the Onions into 3 centimeter cubes),  
  • - 4 Medium size Tomatoes (500gr-Chop the Tomatoes into 3 centimeter cubes),
  • - 3 or 5 Medium size fresh Red Peppers (250gr-Chop the Red Peppers into 3 centimeter cubes),
  • - 3 or 5 Medium size fresh green peppers (chop the green peppers into 3 centimeter cubes),
  • - 1 Bunch of parsley, chopped finely or blend it,
  • - 1 Bunch of dill, chopped finely or blend it,
  • - 8 Cups of all purpose flour (900-1000gr),
  • - 5 Cups Plain Yogurt (1000gr),
Preperation:
  1. First of all, put your all ingredients on your work table. Then, put 2 cups water and salt in a deep pan and let it boil. Meanwhile, peel the onions and wash, and wash the tomateos and peppers, remove the stems of the peppers. Chop the tomateos and other vegetables into 3 centimeter cubes and then blend the parsley and dill (or chop them finely) and add to boiling water and cook for 40-45 minutes until they are tender. Then, let it cool and then pass through a blender or sieve. 
  2. Then, put the flour in a large plastic bowl, and mix, make a hole in the middle and place the yogurt and the mashed vegetables, mix well and knead gently for 7-8 minutes to make a dough. Then add flour and knead until you reach an elastic dough which doesn't stick to your hands. Cover and leave to fermentation for 10 days at room temperature. During this time add a handful of flour and knead it three times a day, everyday. 
  3. Then, divide the dough into egg-sized pieces and place on a clean cloth. Dry them out in an airy shaded place keeping slidely humid. Then turn upside down the pieces in the next day. The other day, cut the pieces into little pieces and let them dry for 2-3 days more and changing their places. 
  4. Then, rub each piece of dough between the palm of the hands to make small size grains and again leave to dry. Pass through a sieve and repeat the dying process. Spread Tarhana Dough on a towel and let dry for another 2-3 days. Then, keep in a glass jar.    
Enjoy!

Please let us know how this "Home Made Dried Tarhana (Turkish Traditional Fermented Soup Tarhana) Recipe" turns out for you in the comments. We are always so eager to hear from you.

You may like our; 

Breadvesalt@gmail.com

Comments

  1. This is amazing! It does look like such a long process but it is so nice you then have it all ready to use whenever you are hungry, and that it keeps for so long! :)

    Hope you are having a nice week :)

    Away From The Blue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Yes it takes time but worth it. It is so healthy and hearty soup. Have a wonderful day.

      Delete
  2. That does sound good. A little effort and quite a lot of time, but well worth it.
    I may try it when we move into summer. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wholy agree with you Dear E.C.! Its preparation takes time but worth it. Have a wonderful day.

      Delete
  3. This looks so delicious. I never saw this soup before today. I would like to try it. It looks very good with healthy ingredients. Thank you for posting it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very wellcome Dear Yessyan! We prepare this Tarhana powder (soup) for winter alot. Have a great day.

      Delete
  4. Genial receta , muy diferente. Tengo ganas de hacerla. Te mando un beso

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tarhana Powder is new to me.How interesting! So it works just like instant soup?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Angie! In summer (especially in August) its preoaration takes time but worth it. In winter we cook this soup super quick. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  6. Amazing process and it looks very interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment Dear Margaret! Its preparation takes time but worth it. We recommend that try it. It is our favourite quick soup in winter.

      Delete
  7. This looks really delicious.
    A lot of work, but you also have something delicious.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Greetings Irma

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your nice comment Dear Irma! Happy day.

      Delete
  8. We also have tarana here :) especially in my Vojvodina, but we use the word for little pasta pellets or droplets. I think it is called orzo pasta in English. We cook it similarly to paprikash, I love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment Dear Dezmond! Yes, also we have different version of tarhana soup here. We always use central Anatolian recipe of tarhana. I would like to try yours Tarana.

      Delete
  9. I've never heard of Tarhana Soup, but this sooooo soooo coooool I think that's the first recipe for instant soup I've ever seen. The process is fascinating and the flavour profile is great. While it's time-consuming (well, mostly waiting), I think it's 100% worth it. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Ben! Thank you so much for your comment. We prepare this instant soup alot. It is our favourite winter soup. Happy day.

      Delete
  10. Wow! Looks very tasty! Thanks so much!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very wellcome Dear Ellie! Thanks for your comment.

      Delete
  11. So glad to see this recipe! Thank you so much! Yummy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Happy day.

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much for the sweetest comments! Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I always look forward to see what you have cooking. You are an amazing chef!

      Delete
    3. Thank you so much for your kind comment and wishes Dear Ellie! I really love to read your posts, i really love to stay and spend time in your blogsite. Happy day.

      Delete
  12. Waw, the reciepe looks great! and 10 day for waiting , have to be patient.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Dear friend! You have to be patient for the good result. Thands for your cmoment. .

      Delete
  13. That is a complicated process, but looks like a good end result.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Actually its preparation is not complicated but takes really time.

      Delete
  14. Looks good. Seems like a lot of prep, though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Liz! Yes its preparation takes time but worth it.

      Delete
  15. This looks delicious! Even though it is a lot of prep work, I'm sure it is well worth it. Hope you had a great vacation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Vacation was nice thanks.

      Delete
  16. That's completely new to me. Looks interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Its preparation takes time in summer but we cook this soup alot in winter.

      Delete
  17. Ah que bom voltar aqui e ver mais uma excelente receita!
    Adorei!
    😊

    ReplyDelete
  18. This soup is interesting. I would love to have soups that cook easily.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment dear friend! Yes this soup cooking process so easy. We cook it alot on winter.

      Delete
  19. Ana, I did not know this technique. I suppose it should be done in dry climate regions since it takes several days to dry.
    The weather around here is humid

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I see my friend. So your drying process takes long time than ours or you prefer to 9ven-drying process. Happy day.

      Delete
  20. Se lo diré a mi hija, seguro que le encantará hacerla. Un beso y gracias.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Happy day.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love anything that has dill and parsley and I love how long the mixture can be stored. This is a fantastic recipe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Also dill and parsley are my favourite herbs too.

      Delete
  23. Curious, new, and totally unknown to me. It sure is healthy, like all fermented foods.
    Greetings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We prepare this instant soup alot in summer and cook it alot in winter time. I agree with you my friend, fermented foods are better. Thanks för your comment. Happy day.

      Delete
  24. Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend!

      Delete
  25. It such a long process to do this soup. Btw Im from Malaysia. Nice to know you. Currently I want to change my food to healthy food too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nice to meet you Dear Nadia Jamhari! Thank you so much for your comment. I agree with you; homemade foods and healthy foods are always better.

      Delete
  26. Look so yummy ��
    And that's right, it's a long process to make a yummy and healthy food like this

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! This soup is our traditional soup and we prepare it alot. Happy day,

      Delete
  27. Although "cooking" is not my thing, it is nice to know your recipes and get to your precious Blog.
    It is also knowing an important part of the culture of your country.
    Thanks.
    Greetings from our Atlantic shores.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear Graciela Bacon! We have a very old cuisine and have lots öf traditional dishes. Happy day. Greetings from Turkey (Mediterranean Region)

      Delete
  28. Thanks so much for sharing this healthy and historic recipe! I loved learning the origin of Tarhana Soup, or as you (and the story!) say, Sultan's Soup. I hope that you and your family had a relaxing vacation with lots of wonderful things to eat. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your best wishes and your comment Dear friend. Yes holiday was nice.

      Delete
  29. Looks really interesting and delicious but a lot of work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Yes alot of work but worth it.

      Delete
  30. Oh very interesting process darling
    Thanks for share with us
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very wellcome Dear friend! Thank you for your comment.

      Delete
  31. Thank you so much for sharing your post, the history and process of the Tarhana Soup is very interesting. It is nice that food traditions like this are still being kept alive.

    ReplyDelete
  32. the oldest instant soup in the world? woowww amazing!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes it is correct Dear friend! Many historians agree with it. Thanks för your comment.

      Delete
  33. Terimakasih untuk artikelnya, bermanfaat👍

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Yes prepare it alot in summers for the cold days.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend!

      Delete
  36. Very interesting post.

    www.paginasempreto.blogspot.com.br

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend!

      Delete
  37. Wow, I don't know how you do it. Beautiful dish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you Dear friend, it is really beautiful, healthy and comfort soup. Its preparation takes really time but worth it.

      Delete
  38. So good! If only I could cook as well as you do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Hope to you try this soup oneday. It is very healthy and comfort soup.

      Delete
  39. This looks so delicious. I never saw this soup before today.
    Tarhana Powder is new to me. How interesting! 😀

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! It is very healthy and comfort soup. Hope to you try it one day.

      Delete
  40. Replies
    1. Thank you so much for kind comment Dear fruend!

      Delete
  41. Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Happy day.

      Delete
  42. Lots of ingredients are used to make it. But, look delicious

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes ingredients very rich and this soup is very healthy. Thanks for your comment Dear friend! Happy day.

      Delete
  43. Hello,

    The ingredients are delicious, sounds like an interesting recipe. Thank you for sharing.
    Take care, have a great day and week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! Thank you so much for your wishes and cömert Dear friend! Happy day.

      Delete
  44. very good! have a great day! :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. A very interesting recipe! Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very wellcome Dear friend! Thank you for your kind comment. Happy day.

      Delete
  46. Hice tres viajes a Estambul y vuestra cocina me encanta , como ejemplo esta sopa que lleva unos deliciosos y sanos ingredientes y una preparacion de lo mas interesante , una receta genial
    saludos

    ReplyDelete
  47. What an interesting soup! I love the origin story. I'm glad you included instructions about how to make tarhana, because I have no idea where I'd go shopping for it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment Dear friend! Turkish online groceries sell it but let me to examine it for you and then inform you ok!

      Delete
  48. Me ha encantado la receta, se ve deliciosa
    bsss

    ReplyDelete
  49. hola
    siempre que paso por aqui me voy muerta de hambre jajaja me apunto tus recetas
    Besotesssssssssss

    ReplyDelete
  50. Replies
    1. Very wellcome Dear friend! Thank you for your nice comment. Happy day.

      Delete
  51. Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting! Thank you for your nice comment. Happy day.

      Delete
  52. Replies
    1. Thank you for your visit and comment dear friend! Happy day.

      Delete
  53. Excellent post! Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very wellcome Dear friend! Thank you for visiting and comment. Happy day.

      Delete
  54. Hope you taste our very unique Tarhana soup! It is rearly very healthy and hearty. Thanks for your comment! Happy day.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Love the recipe; more than the recipes, its enriching to know about a culture through these recipes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks alot dear friend! Also your cuisine is amazing and very unique! I love to visit your blogsite.

      Delete

Post a Comment