Go Back
5 from 13 votes
Print

Algerian Cracked Green Wheat Soup - Chorba Frik

Course Soup
Cuisine Algerian
Keyword chorba frik, freekeh
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6
Author LDS's Mom

Ingredients

  • 1 lb beef in bone (or lamb or a mix of lamb and beef), cut into medium pieces
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ bunch cilantro (not chopped)
  • 1 celery stalk with leaves
  • 2 medium tomatoes, grated
  • 1 medium zucchini
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 3 red radish
  • Very small piece of butternut squash (peeled), the size of a small potato (optional).
  • ½ cup of chickpeas, soaked overnight, washed and rinsed
  • ½ cup fine frik or fine freekeh ( cracked green wheat)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp ginger powder
  • Salt to taste
  • Hot water

Garnish

  • ¼ bunch chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. Put the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

  2. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, meat pieces, salt, pepper, paprika, tomato paste, ginger powder and the ½ bunch of cilantro.

  3. Let cook for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.

  4. Add the grated tomatoes, celery, carrots, zucchini, radish, the piece of butternut squash and the chickpeas. Let cook for a good 10 minutes.

  5. Cover the meat and vegetables with hot water. Increase the heat to high until it starts to boil, then reduce to medium. Let cook for about ½ hour.

  6. Soak the frik or Freekeh in hot water for about 15 minutes then wash well until its water runs clear. Drain and add it to the saucepan. Let cook with the meat and vegetables for about ½ hour.

  7. Once the vegetables are cooked, take out the zucchini, the piece of butternut squash, carrots, radish and puree them, then pour the puree in the saucepan. You should add more hot water at this step.

  8. Take out the celery stalk and the ½ bunch of non chopped cilantro. Discard them.

  9. Stir the chorba occasionally to prevent the Frik from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan.

  10. Check the seasoning and add salt if needed.

  11. Once the meat, chickpeas and frik are cooked, turn off the heat and add the chopped cilantro.

  12. Serve.

Recipe Notes

  • Add hot water if you want a lighter soup and adjust the seasoning.
  • If you can’t find the cracked green wheat or cracked Freekeh, you can use the whole green wheat or whole Freekek (Frik).