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Ciorbă Rădăuțeană (Romania)

An authentic recipe for traditional Romanian Ciorbă Rădăuțeană, highlighting its velvety texture, aromatic garlic base, and shredded chicken.

Level Medium Prep 20 min Cook 60 min Servings 6 Score 4.9/10

Ready in

80 min

Makes 6 servings

Prep 20m

Cook 60m

Level Medium

About this recipe

An authentic recipe for traditional Romanian Ciorbă Rădăuțeană, highlighting its velvety texture, aromatic garlic base, and shredded chicken.

A beloved Romanian sour soup featuring tender shredded chicken, velvety sour cream, and a rich punch of garlic.

Instructions

In a large pot, cover the chicken with water, bring to a boil, and skim off any foam that rises to the surface.
Add the whole onions, carrots, parsnip, and bell pepper to the pot. Simmer on medium-low heat for about 45-50 minutes until the chicken is tender.
Remove the cooked chicken and vegetables from the broth. Strain the clear chicken broth into a clean pot.
Shred the chicken meat into fine strips and discard the boiled vegetables (or save carrots for garnish if desired). Return the shredded chicken to the strained broth.
In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sour cream, and minced garlic until smooth.
Temper the sour cream mixture by gradually adding a ladleful of hot soup while whisking constantly to prevent curdling.
Pour the tempered mixture back into the soup pot over low heat, stirring gently. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice or vinegar to taste. Do not let it boil vigorously.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve hot, optionally with extra garlic sauce (mujdei) and hot peppers on the side.

Nutrition

Calories 340

Protein 24g

Carbs 10g

Fat 22g

Fiber 2g

Sugar 4g

Sodium 480mg

Serving Size 1 bowl

Cooking Timeline

Prep 20 min

Cook 60 min

Total 80 min

Recipe Scorecard

Overall 9.4 /10

Expert 4.9 95% conf.

Taste 9.8
Presentation 9.2
Nutrition 8.0
Value 9.0
Instructions 9.3
Ingredients 9.5
Time Accuracy 9.0
Difficulty 7.5
Would Make Again 9.5

Expert Review

Reviewed by FindEdition Kitchen

Verdict

A creamy, intensely aromatic, and comforting Romanian masterpiece that stands out among traditional soups.

Pros

Rich and velvety texture
Distinct garlic flavor
Incredibly comforting

Cons

Requires careful temperature control when adding dairy

Overview

A beloved Romanian sour soup featuring tender shredded chicken, velvety sour cream, and a rich punch of garlic.

AI Insights

Summary

An authentic recipe for traditional Romanian Ciorbă Rădăuțeană, highlighting its velvety texture, aromatic garlic base, and shredded chicken.

Tips

Use high-fat sour cream (smântână with 20% or higher fat content) to prevent separation in the hot broth
Do not boil the soup after adding the sour cream and egg mixture
Serve with fresh hot peppers (ardei iute) and a side of crusty bread or polenta (mămăligă)

Substitutions

Sour cream → Plain full-fat Greek yogurt (though traditional smântână is preferred)
Lemon juice → White wine vinegar

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on low heat without boiling.

Pairing

Crusty peasant bread
Fresh hot chili peppers and mujdei (garlic sauce)

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FAQ

What is the difference between Ciorbă Rădăuțeană and regular chicken soup?

Ciorbă Rădăuțeană is heavily flavored with crushed garlic and thickened with a rich mixture of sour cream and egg yolks instead of traditional bors or noodles.

How do I prevent the sour cream from curdling?

Always temper the sour cream and egg yolk mixture by slowly whisking in hot broth before pouring it back into the pot, and avoid boiling the soup after adding dairy.