Kharcho (Georgian Beef & Rice Soup)
3 lbs. beef stew meat
3 tsp. salt (I use Kosher salt)
Light olive oil (or any cooking oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
4 cups beef broth + 4 cup filtered water
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 dry bay leaves
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp smoked paprika (I use sweet Hungarian paprika)
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 cup uncooked white rice (I used Jasmine)
juice of one lemon
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, plus more to serve
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped, plus more to serve
Sprinkle meat with 3 tsp. salt and stir. Heat a dutch oven or soup
pot over medium/high heat and add 2 Tbsp oil. Once the oil is hot,
add beef in two batches, sautéing until browned on all sides
(don’t worry about cooking it through). Remove from pot and set
aside.
Add chopped onion and celery with more oil as needed. Saute 5
minutes until softened.
Add canned tomatoes with their juice, 4 cups broth, 4 cups water,
2 bay leaves and browned beef. Bring to a boil then reduce heat.
Cover and simmer 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until beef is tender.
[Note: You can make it a day in advance to this point,
and finish with the rice just before serving.]
Add 1/2 cup white rice, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 pressed garlic
cloves, 1 tsp coriander, 1 tsp paprika. Cover and simmer 20
minutes or until rice is tender.
Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup parsley and 1/4 cup dill then
cover and let sit off heat another 10 minutes before serving.
Season to taste with salt and pepper if needed and serve with more
fresh herbs as desired.
Source: Cristian Panaite (via Natasha's
Kitchen)
and finish with the rice just before serving.]