Lamb's lettuce soup

To prepare a delicious and nourishing soup, we start by heating oil in a large pot, which will become the home of our fragrant vegetables. At the optimal temperature, we add the peeled and thinly sliced carrots, along with the diced bell pepper. These vegetables will be sautéed for 2-3 minutes until they release their aromas and become slightly translucent. After this short time, we add the green onions, which we cut into pieces of about one centimeter, and continue sautéing for another 2 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning the vegetables.

Once the vegetables are well sautéed, we pour in hot water, about 1.5 – 2 liters, into the pot, making sure all the ingredients are covered. We let it boil for 20 minutes, during which the flavors will combine harmoniously. In the meantime, we take care of the fresh vegetables. We wash the lamb's quarters, wild garlic, and sorrel well, then cut them into thin strips to preserve their texture and freshness.

After the 20 minutes of boiling, we add the green vegetables to the pot, along with the well-rinsed rice, to remove excess starch. We continue boiling the soup for another 12-15 minutes, or until the rice is nearly cooked, adding substance and consistency to our dish.

When the rice is nearly ready, it's time to add a splash of flavor. We incorporate the roasted pepper paste, which will add a sweet-sour taste, along with the flavor granules that will intensify the aroma. Here, we also add sour cabbage juice or borscht, depending on our preferences – if we want a sourer soup, we add more borscht or cabbage juice. We let it boil for 5-10 minutes until the rice is fully cooked and all the flavors have perfectly blended.

Finally, turning off the heat, we add the finely chopped parsley and lovage, which will provide a fresh taste and a hint of greenery to our soup. The soup can be served both hot and cold, depending on everyone's preferences, and it is delicious with a spoonful of sour cream or yogurt, especially if you are not fasting. This recipe is not just a simple soup, but an explosion of flavors and nutrients, perfect for warming our souls and bodies on cool days. Enjoy your meal!

 Ingredients: 3 carrots, 1 red bell pepper, 3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 bunch red orach, 1 bunch white orach, 1 bunch green onions, 1 bunch wild garlic, 1 bunch sorrel, 1 bunch parsley, 1 bunch lovage, 1 cup long-grain rice, 2 tablespoons roasted pepper paste, 1 tablespoon flavor balls, 500 ml cabbage juice or borscht

 Tags:  onion greenness carrots cabbage rice soups tomatoes borscht pepper oil olives