Afghan Shorwa (Lamb and Vegetable Soup)

About This Recipe

Afghan Shorwa is a real, traditional Afghan dish, known as Lamb and Vegetable Soup. A clear, comforting lamb broth simmered with chickpeas, potatoes and carrots, a foundational Afghan home-cooked soup.\n\nShorwa is a staple of Afghan home cooking, historically valued for its simplicity and nourishing qualities, often served as a starter or light meal, especially during colder months or when recovering from illness.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Afghan home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 800 glamb shoulder or shank, bone-in(cut into pieces)
• 2 Lwater
• 1yellow onion(diced)
• 200 gchickpeas(soaked overnight, or canned)
• 3potatoes(cut into chunks)
• 3carrots(cut into chunks)
• 1 tspturmeric
• 2bay leaves
• 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)
• 2 tbspchopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. 1

   Simmer the lamb

   Combine lamb, water, onion, soaked chickpeas (if using dried) and bay leaves in a large pot. Bring to a boil, skim foam, then simmer for 1 hour.

2. 2

   Add vegetables

   Add potatoes, carrots and turmeric, simmering for another 25 minutes until the vegetables and chickpeas are tender.

3. 3

   Add canned chickpeas if using

   If using canned chickpeas instead of dried, add them now and simmer for 10 more minutes to heat through.

4. 4

   Season

   Season with salt to taste.

5. 5

   Finish

   Stir in fresh cilantro just before serving.

6. 6

   Serve

   Ladle into bowls, ensuring each portion has a good mix of lamb, vegetables and chickpeas, and serve hot with naan.

Variations

• •

  Add a whole hot chili pepper for background heat.

• •

  Some households add split peas alongside or instead of chickpeas.

• •

  Serve with a wedge of lemon for extra brightness.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions