Yogurt Soup (Armenian Spas)
If you're looking for comfort food, whip up a bowl of this Armenian Yogurt Soup, called Spas. It's a simple dish that is sure to satisfy. Spas is a traditional Armenian soup made with yogurt and soft wheat berries. This yogurt soup is very smooth and comforting. The chewy wheat berries provide an interesting texture and make the soup more filling. Spas is the perfect soup to warm you up on a cold dark evening and you can use it as an alternative to a chicken soup to soothe cold and flu symptoms. It can also be served cold during hot summer months. This Armenian soup is very budget-friendly and is made using simple ingredients that most people have in their fridge and pantry.
½ cup dry soft wheat kernels, (aka soft wheat berries)
1 egg
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, unbleached
2½ cups 2% plain yogurt
¼ cup sour cream
2 cups water
sea salt
handful fresh parsley, chopped
To cook the soft wheat berries, rinse them under running water. Place the rinsed berries into a sauce pan and add enough water to cover the grains by about 2". Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about 40-45 minutes until the grains are chewy. Drain and set aside.
To make the soup, add the egg into a pot where you are going to cook the soup. Beat the egg slightly with a wooden spoon.
Add the flour. To make sure there are no lumps, it's best to sift the flour into the egg making sure to constantly mix.
Mix the egg and flour until smooth, then add the yogurt and sour cream. Stir to combine. Then add two cups of water.
You can add the wheat berries at this stage, if you like. This way, they will cook some more and become softer. If you are happy with the texture of your wheat berries, add them at the end of cooking.
Place the pot on the stove and start warming it up making sure to stir often. Bring it to a simmer. Continue cooking for about ten minutes, until thickened slightly.
Add the chopped parsley and, if you haven't done so already, the wheat berries. Remove the soup from the heat and serve.
Makes 4 servings.