Flour Soup (Övelemeç Soup) – Serves 5
Flour Soup, known locally as Övelemeç Soup, is one of Alanya’s humble yet hearty recipes. It is particularly valued for its quick preparation using simple ingredients. The small homemade dough pieces make it both nutritious and filling.
🥣 Ingredients
For the Dough and Base:
-
5–6 tablespoons flour
-
3 medium tomatoes, grated
-
3 tablespoons tomato paste
-
3 tablespoons butter
-
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Liquids and Spices:
-
6 cups water or bone broth
-
1 tablespoon ground red pepper
-
1 teaspoon dried mint (optional)
-
6 cloves garlic, crushed
-
Lemon juice (optional)
👩🍳 Preparation
1️⃣ Preparing the Base
-
Heat the butter in a pot until lightly foaming.
-
Add the vegetable oil, then stir in the grated tomatoes and sauté.
-
Add the tomato paste and ground red pepper, cook for a few more minutes, then pour in the water or bone broth and bring to a boil.
2️⃣ Making the Övelemeç (Dough)
-
Place the flour in a large plate.
-
Sprinkle a little water over it gradually while mixing by hand.
-
The flour should be moist but not sticky or doughy.
-
Rub the mixture between your palms to form small, slightly larger than pearl-sized dough pieces.
3️⃣ Cooking
-
Gradually sprinkle the prepared dough pieces into the boiling soup, stirring constantly.
-
Continuous stirring is essential to prevent clumping.
4️⃣ Final Touch
-
After the soup boils for a few minutes, add the crushed garlic and, if desired, lemon juice.
-
Once the soup reaches the desired consistency, turn off the heat.
-
Optionally, sprinkle dried mint when serving.
🔎 Tips
-
Consistency: The dough pieces will thicken the soup; adjust with hot water or broth if needed.
-
Stirring: Continuous stirring when adding the dough prevents them from sticking together.
-
Flavor Enhancement: Using bone broth significantly increases both the nutritional value and flavor of the soup.
This traditional soup, made with simple ingredients, offers a warm and hearty option for meals, especially on cold days.