Egyptian peeled wheat berry chicken and chick-pea soup

8 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1 cup Whole peeled wheat berries soaked overnight
½ cup Dried chick-peas soaked overnight
2½ pounds Whole chicken
2 smalls Beef marrow bones with marrow removed
9 cups Water
¼ teaspoon Turmeric
¾ pounds Onion(s), quartered (2 large onions)
The Versatile Grain
and the
Elegant Bean
by Sheryl and Mel London
ISBN 0-671-76106-4
pg 233
1 large Garlic clove(s)
2 smalls Turnips, peeled and halved
2 Stalks celery with leaves
2 smalls Carrots
6 Sprigs parsley
½ teaspoon Black peppercorns
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Syrian Mixed Spices or ground allspice

Directions

Drain the wheat berries and chick-peas and set aside. To a large, 7-qt. Dutch oven, add the chicken, marrow bones and water. Bring to a boil, skim the surface, then lower the heat and add the turmeric, onions, garlic and turnips. Tie the celery, carrots, parsley and peppercorns in a cheesecloth sack for easy removal and tuck into the pot. Simmer, covered, for 1¬ hours.

Lift out the chicken, marrow bones and bundle of vegetables. Set the chicken aside to cool and discard the bones and the bag of vegetables.

Pur‚e the soup and the remaining vegetables in a food processor in batches, returning each batch to the pot. Bring to a boil again, add the soaked chick-peas and wheat berries, lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 45-60 minutes or until the grain and chick-peas are tender.

Meanwhile, when the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and the bones and discard them. Tear the chicken meat into large pieces and add to the pot. Add salt. In a small skillet, melt the butter and stir in the Syrian Mixed Spices. Dribble over the soup before serving right from the pot. The spices will float on top, dotting the surface in a polka-dot design. Ladle into soup b owls while the soup is still piping hot.

Submitted By DIANE LAZARUS On 10-17-95

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