Serving the Guest: A Sufi Cookbook
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The meaning of fire is the soul of the cauldron.
Its form outside, its meaning inside —
The soul's beloved is within the soul itself,
like blood in the veins.
Turkish Barley Soup
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 cups coarsely chopped onions
12 cups stock
1 tbsp. salt
2 tsp. pepper
3 cups yogurt
¼ cup, coarsely chopped parsley
¼ cup fresh mint, coarsely chopped, or 1 tbsp. dried
In a bowl, cover the barley with cold water and soak overnight.
In a kettle over medium heat, melt the butter and fry the onions for 5 minutes, until golden. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Drain the barley and add it to the pot with the salt and pepper. Lower the heat and simmer for an hour, until the barley is tender. Whisk a cup of broth into the yogurt, then add this to the soup. Stir constantly until the soup is hot again, but not boiling. Turn off the heat and stir in the parsley and mint.
from Serving the Guest: A Sufi Cookbook
Copyright © 1999, 2000 by Kathleen Seidel
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