Just like in the neighboring Azerbaijan, yogurt is an indispensable kitchen staple in Turkey, too. It is added to salads, made into sauces with garlic to scoop onto pasta dishes, used to moisten the layers of borek pies, or to fix a refreshing yogurt drink, ayran, or turned into this wonderfully  light but still a filling soup called yayla corbasi.  Yayla chorbasi is somewhat similar to the Azerbaijani yogurt soup dougha, with the main difference being in the herbs used—the Azerbaijani version features a variety of fresh herbs (cilantro, dill,  spinach etc), while its Turkish counterpart is flavored with dried mint only. Both soups are delicious in their own way and I make them often to ease off the frequent yogurt craving tantrums of the family, the most scary ones coming from me.

Here’s the recipe for yayla chorbasi from my Turkish mother-in-law’s recipe collection. The soup is very easy to make and is very delicious. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Turkish Yogurt Soup (Yayla Chorbasi)

Variation: A variaton of yayla soup calls for chickpeas. If opting for this version, presoak ¼ cup dried chickpeas in water for a few hours, then boil until tender. Drain the chickpeas and add them to the already cooked soup. You can also use canned chickpeas, about 1/2 cup or more to taste. Rinse them and add to the cooked soup. Remove the skins of the chickpeas by squeezing them between your fingers; the skins will peel right off .

Serves 4 to 5

Ingredients

3 cups plain yogurt
4 cup water
1 egg
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons medium grain rice (such as Calrose)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons finely crushed dried mint
Pinch of paprika (do not overdo)
Salt to taste

Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine the yogurt, water, egg, flour, and rice. Do not season the soup with salt at this point or the yogurt will curdle while cooking (you will add it once the soup is cooked). Whisk until well blended and smooth and no lumps remain.

Turn the heat to medium to low, and cook, stirring constantly (very important, to prevent the yogurt from curdling) with a wooden spoon in a circular motion, until the mixture comes to a boil. Continue to cook, this time, stirring frequently but not constantly until the rice is tender to bite. Remove the soup from the heat.

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a small frying pan. When it begins to sizzle, immediately remove the pan from the heat and add the dried mint and paprika to it. Stir for about half a minute then pour the mixture into the soup. Stir. Season the soup with salt, to taste.

Ladle the soup into individual serving bowls and serve immediately, with bread.