Aush (Afghan Noodle Soup)

• Prep time: 20 mins

• Cook time: 30 mins

• Total time: 50 mins

• Servings: 6

• Country of origin: Afghanistan

• Description: A rich, comforting soup made with flat wheat noodles, red kidney beans, chickpeas, and a garlicky yogurt base, topped with savory minced meat sauce.

• Presentation: Served in deep soup bowls topped with a ladle of spiced ground beef sauce and a generous dusting of dried mint.

• Ingredients:

  • 8 oz flat wheat noodles (or linguine)

  • 1/2 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed

  • 1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed

  • 1/2 lb ground beef or lamb

  • 1 medium onion, diced

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

  • 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt or Chaka (strained yogurt)

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 tbsp dried mint

  • 1 tsp turmeric

  • Salt and pepper to taste

• Step-by-step directions:

  • Sauté diced onion and ground meat in a skillet with tomato paste, turmeric, salt, and pepper until cooked through.

  • In a large pot, bring 6 cups water or broth to a boil; add kidney beans, chickpeas, and flat noodles, cooking until noodles are tender.

  • Mix yogurt with minced garlic and a pinch of salt.

  • Stir half garlic yogurt mixture directly into soup pot off heat.

  • Ladle soup into bowls, top with cooked ground meat sauce, a swirl of garlic yogurt, and dried mint.

• Optional variations: Omit ground meat sauce for a completely vegetarian Aush.

• Cooking tips: Add yogurt to soup off heat to prevent curdling.

• Nutrition facts:

  • Calories: 380 kcal

  • Fat: 11g

  • Carbohydrates: 50g

  • Protein: 20g