Middle Eastern Lamb And Spinach Soup Recipes

Steps:

• In a large pan, saute the chopped onion in 2 Tbs oil until golden.
• Add the turmeric, split peas and 5 cups water; bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes.
• Combine the lamb and grated onion. Shape into walnut-sized balls with your hands.
• Add meatballs to the pan and simmer 10 minutes.
• Add the spinach, cover and simmer 20 more minutes.
• Mix rice flour with 1 cup cold water to make a smooth paste. Slowly add the paste to the pan, stirring constantly.
• Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper and cook over low heat 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, saute the garlic in 1 Tbsp oil in a small skillet until golden. Stir in mint and remove from heat.
• Remove the soup from the heat and stir a little bit into the beaten eggs, then stir the eggs back into the soup.
• Sprinkle the garlic and mint over the top of soup before serving. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Bring water and chicken broth to boil in heavy large saucepan or Dutch oven over high heat. Add lamb shanks, carrot, chopped onion, celery and bay leaf and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until lamb is tender, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Transfer lamb to plate and cool slightly. Remove meat from bone and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Strain cooking liquid and reserve.
• In same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onion and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes. Add reserved cooking liquid, lamb meat and orzo. Cook soup over medium heat until orzo is tender but still firm to bite, about 20 minutes. Add spinach to soup and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. (Soup can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring soup to simmer before serving.) Ladle soup into bowls. Serve, passing grated Parmesan cheese separately.