Falsa Juha - False Soup
My husband makes these kinds of soups all the time. If I make dinner and I haven't made a soup, he will go into our garden and see what we have in the fridge and he will throw one together.
Why is it called a false soup. Because in Croatia most soups are meat based soups, so this is thought of as a cheats soup or a fake soup. But trust me, there is nothing false or fake about the flavour, in fact, you won't miss the meat here, it's a delicious soup.
Here I say serves 4-6, as in my family it served 4 as we have multiple bowls of it, but it will serve 6 if you are having one bowl each.
The flour is optional, it is meant to thicken the soup, but you can just thicken the soup with extra pasta. It's quite nice as a thin soup either way.
This recipe is to be used as a guide, as it changes with what is in season in our garden or in the shops, and with what you have in the refrigerator. For instance if you don't have dill, and you don't use a lot of dill, don't buy a bunch just for this soup, I just happen to grow it in my garden, so I added it.
With the cavalo nero we grow it in our garden so I picked young leaves, so when I shredded it, I included the stalks. If you use store bought cavalo nero, remove tough older stalks, or add them when you add the potatoes, so they cook for longer.
With the pasta, add in any small pasta shape that you love, I love ditalini, or risoni, but sometimes I just crush up tagliatelle.
This is a feel good soup that is delicious, it is worth a try, and it will not disappoint.
Why is it called a false soup. Because in Croatia most soups are meat based soups, so this is thought of as a cheats soup or a fake soup. But trust me, there is nothing false or fake about the flavour, in fact, you won't miss the meat here, it's a delicious soup.
Here I say serves 4-6, as in my family it served 4 as we have multiple bowls of it, but it will serve 6 if you are having one bowl each.
The flour is optional, it is meant to thicken the soup, but you can just thicken the soup with extra pasta. It's quite nice as a thin soup either way.
This recipe is to be used as a guide, as it changes with what is in season in our garden or in the shops, and with what you have in the refrigerator. For instance if you don't have dill, and you don't use a lot of dill, don't buy a bunch just for this soup, I just happen to grow it in my garden, so I added it.
With the cavalo nero we grow it in our garden so I picked young leaves, so when I shredded it, I included the stalks. If you use store bought cavalo nero, remove tough older stalks, or add them when you add the potatoes, so they cook for longer.
With the pasta, add in any small pasta shape that you love, I love ditalini, or risoni, but sometimes I just crush up tagliatelle.
This is a feel good soup that is delicious, it is worth a try, and it will not disappoint.
Recipe
Serves 4-6
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
3 small carrots, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 tablespoon dill, finely chopped
1 potato, peeled, diced
1-2 teaspoons plain flour, optional
1 heaped teaspoon tomato paste
2-3 teaspoons vegeta, to taste
1 cup peas
1 large bunch cavalo nero, shredded
1/2-2/3 cup soup pasta, your choice
2 sprigs parsley, finely chopped
Salt and white pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
3 small carrots, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 tablespoon dill, finely chopped
1 potato, peeled, diced
1-2 teaspoons plain flour, optional
1 heaped teaspoon tomato paste
2-3 teaspoons vegeta, to taste
1 cup peas
1 large bunch cavalo nero, shredded
1/2-2/3 cup soup pasta, your choice
2 sprigs parsley, finely chopped
Salt and white pepper, to taste
Heat the oil in a medium sized saucepan, add the onion, sauté until translucent and soft. Add the carrots, celery, dill and potatoes, sauté 2 minutes. Add in the flour and tomato paste, stir through for 1 minute.
Add in 4-6 cups water, you need enough water to cover the vegetables. I tend to make a thinner soup so add more liquid, but you can add less liquid and make a thicker soup. Add the vegeta, to taste, I add the 3 teaspoons as I like it, but you can add less if you like. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add in the peas and cavalo nero, bring back to the boil, add in the pasta and parsley, cook until the pasta is cooked. If your soup is on the thicker side, just add a bit more water. Taste for seasoning.
Serve immediately.
Add in 4-6 cups water, you need enough water to cover the vegetables. I tend to make a thinner soup so add more liquid, but you can add less liquid and make a thicker soup. Add the vegeta, to taste, I add the 3 teaspoons as I like it, but you can add less if you like. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add in the peas and cavalo nero, bring back to the boil, add in the pasta and parsley, cook until the pasta is cooked. If your soup is on the thicker side, just add a bit more water. Taste for seasoning.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!