kələm yerkökü Āsh: a hearty and healthy winter soup with cabbage and carrots

kələm yerkökü aash: heary and jealthy persian cabbage soup

there's nothing like a steaming hot bowl of thick and hearty آش‎ on a cold winter day.  Āsh (persian: آش‎) is a whole meal in itself that satisfies way beyond a simple bowl of soup. this thick cabbage soup known in our family as the kalam yerkoku (cabbage and carrots in azerbaijani) was (yet another) specialty of my grandma's and always a favorite of mine (although i never ate the carrots). looking back, i feel like my mommonee always had a bowl of warmth waiting for us when we came in from playing in her enormous backyard. when it snowed, she covered us up so much we could barely walk before sending (or rolling) us out with loads of supplies to make snowmen-carrots, beans, buttons, twigs, old scarves and hats...and while we played with our noses running and our cheecks glowing from the cold, her pot simmered softly in the kitchen creating a most delicious aroma  welcoming us back home. before we knew it we were quickly unbundled and thawing out with a bowl of deliciousness that smelled like heaven (this one was often loaded with aromatic tarragon). oh how i long for those days-which is why i so often cook these thick soups that help tie me back to her, and the safety, love, and pure familial comfort they represent.

ingredients and preparation for 6-8 servings of cabbage, barley, and carrot Āsh:

aash-e-kalam

• 1 cup pearl barley

• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced (for piaz dagh)

• 2-3 tsp turmeric

• 2-3 cloves of garlic, finely minced

• 2-3 cups organic spinach (roughly chopped)

• 2 cups chopped organic cilantro

• 1 cup organic chopped parsley

• 1 cup thinly sliced scallions

• 2 cups cabbage, cut up in chunks

• 4-5 carrots, peeled, cut in half, then in 1 inch pieces

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (i've been using avocado oil)

• a nice bunch of fresh tarragon leaves (or 2-3 tbs dry)

• 2 tbs dry mint

• 5-6 cups good (preferably home made) chicken or beef broth

• 1/2-1 cup cooked garbanzo beans

• sea salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup (or more) kashk (or liquid whey)-can be substituted with sour cream

1. presoak the garbanzo beans (6-8 hours ahead) and cook until tender, set aside (or you can use canned).

2. in a dutch oven, brown the onions in about 1/2 of the vegetable oil with 1 tsp turmeric (see directions for making piaz dagh), remove 1/4 of the onions with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-set aside for garnish. add barley to the remaining onions with about 5 cups of broth, sea salt & pepper, 1 tsp turmeric, and several (another 5-6) cups of water. bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 45-50 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. add carrots, parsley, cilantro, scallions, and spinach, and cook for another 30 minutes. add cooked garbanzo beans and cabbage, making sure to adjust water if necessary (this is supposed to be a rather thick soup). taste and adjust seasoning. cook for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally (careful it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot). add the fresh tarragon leaves (if using dry, add with cabbage) and liquid whey, stirring enough for it to fully incorporate. simmer for another 15-20 minutes.

4. heat remaining oil to a small saucepan, then add minced garlic and fry just long enough until golden (be careful not to burn it). remove from heat, then add dry mint (crushing it between your fingers). combine well, and allow the mixture to sit for at least a few minutes before using. Stir 1/2 of mixture into the aash.

5. serve topped with a few drops of the remaining garlic/mint oil, some fried onions (set aside from before), and a few drops of additional whey as garnish.

6. this is when we say: noosh-e-jan! see garnishes below on another favorite aash, aash-e-reshteh (persian noodle soup)

garnishes for persian aash