Source: Sviatlana Zhornava, AdobeStockSometimes you crave something hot, aromatic, and hearty, and you want it to practically cook itself. That's where the Afghan kazan comes to the rescue! You toss in the ingredients, close it up, wait – and out comes a fabulous soup! We're sharing 12 excellent recipes that will be easy to replicate!
1. Pea Soup in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockPeas cook down quite easily in an Afghan kazan – all advantages!
You will need: 800g pork ribs or other meat, 100g bacon, 250g split peas, 400g potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 onion, 4 cloves garlic, vegetable oil, salt, turmeric, ground black pepper, spices.
Preparation: Rinse the peas and chop all ingredients for the soup. Fry the chopped bacon in a small amount of oil directly in the Afghan kazan and set aside.
Sauté the onion and carrot in the same fat, then add the minced garlic and pork ribs. Add all other ingredients and spices, pour in water until the kazan is 2/3 full, close the lid, and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and cook the soup for 40-45 minutes.
2. Shurpa in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockCan be cooked both on the stove and over an open fire.
You will need: 1 kg beef or lamb, 1 kg potatoes, 2 bell peppers, 500 g tomatoes, 400 g carrots, 2 onions, 4 cloves garlic, 3-4 liters water, salt, spices.
Preparation: Cut all ingredients into large pieces. Place the meat in the kazan and arrange the vegetables on top. Season, pour in water, close the Afghan kazan with the lid, and bring to a boil. Cook the shurpa for 40-45 minutes over medium heat, then let it rest for another 15 minutes, release the steam, and open the lid.
3. Borscht in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockTry making it once, and you'll never forget this taste!
You will need: 1.5 kg meat, 6 potatoes, 300-400 g cabbage, 3 beets, 2 carrots, 2 onions, 2-3 liters water, vegetable oil, salt, spices.
Preparation: Chop the vegetables and meat, then lightly sauté the carrots with onions in the kazan. Layer the meat on top, and then all the vegetables, so the beets are on top. You can also add bell peppers, tomatoes, or a spoonful of tomato paste.
Add spices and salt, pour in water, and stir gently. Close the Afghan kazan and bring to a boil. Cook the borscht for 40 minutes over medium heat, then let it steep for another 15 minutes before opening the kazan.
Shurpa in an Afghan Kazan: 8 Recipes for Those Who Love Good Food
4. Shchi (Cabbage Soup) in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockVery delicious with both meat and lean mushroom or vegetable broth.
You will need: 600 g potatoes, 400 g cabbage, 150 g carrots, 1 onion, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 3 liters broth, vegetable oil, salt, spices.
Preparation: Shred all vegetables for the shchi. Lightly sauté the onion with carrots directly in the Afghan kazan, pour in the broth, and then add all other ingredients. Close the kazan with the lid, bring to a boil, and cook the soup for 40-45 minutes over medium heat. Then carefully open the valves and only then remove the lid.
5. Shchi with Sauerkraut and Meat in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockA heartier and more original recipe for those who prefer more complex flavors.
You will need: 1 kg pork ribs, 300 g fresh cabbage, 300 g sauerkraut, 5 potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 onion, 2 tomatoes, 1 tbsp tomato paste, vegetable oil, salt, spices.
Preparation: Grate the carrot and tomatoes, chop the remaining ingredients for the soup. Fry the pork ribs in the kazan until browned, then add the onion, and after another 5 minutes – the carrot with tomato paste and sauerkraut.
After another 5 minutes, add the tomatoes and regular cabbage, and arrange the potatoes on top. Season and pour in water, keeping in mind that the shchi should be thick. Close the Afghan kazan, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and cook the shchi for approximately 1 hour.
Pea Soup in an Afghan Kazan: 6 Excellent Recipes
6. Chicken Soup in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockA classic for all occasions and for the whole family!
You will need: 1 chicken, 600 g potatoes, 2 carrots, 1 onion, 50 g lard, vegetable oil, salt, spices, aromatic herbs.
Preparation: Cut the chicken into pieces. Chop the potatoes, mince the onion, grate one carrot, and cut the other into chunks. Sauté the onion and grated carrot in lard, add the chicken and fry for another 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients to the Afghan kazan, pour in water, and close the lid. Bring to a boil and cook for 45 minutes over medium heat, then release the steam and only then open the lid.
7. Kharcho Soup in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockAnd if you have lamb, feel free to use it. Sprinkle with chopped herbs when serving.
You will need: 900 g beef, 400 g crushed tomatoes, 150 g rice, 3 onions, 1-2 carrots, 1 hot red pepper, 1 head garlic, 80 g walnuts, 5-6 tbsp tkemali sauce, herbs, vegetable oil, salt, sugar, khmeli-suneli, spices.
Preparation: Place the meat in the Afghan kazan, add a whole onion, pour in water, and cook the broth for about 1 hour in the closed kazan. Sauté the remaining minced onion with carrots until soft, add the tomatoes, sugar, and fry a little more. At the end, season the sautéed vegetables, add walnuts and tkemali.
Shred the meat into pieces and return it to the kazan along with the sautéed vegetables. Add garlic, minced herbs, hot pepper, and more spices to taste. Stir, add the rinsed rice, close the kazan, and cook the kharcho for another 15 minutes.
8. Ukha (Fish Soup) in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockThe beauty of ukha is how incredibly easy it is to prepare.
You will need: 1 kg fish, 1 kg potatoes, 2 carrots, 2 onions, garlic, herbs, salt, spices.
Preparation: Cut the fish into serving pieces. Spines, heads, and tails will also be useful, just remove the gills from the heads. Roughly chop the vegetables and load all ingredients into the Afghan kazan. Season and cover everything with water, close the kazan, bring the ukha to a boil, and cook for approximately 30 minutes over medium heat.
Borscht in an Afghan Kazan: 6 Most Delicious Recipes
9. Mushroom Soup in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockForest mushrooms are best here, and for aroma – add a few dried porcini mushrooms.
You will need: 1 kg mushrooms, 700 g potatoes, 600 g carrots, 500 g onions, 100 g butter, vegetable oil, salt, spices.
Preparation: Chop all ingredients. Fry the potatoes in the kazan in vegetable oil. Add the onion, after another 4 minutes – the carrots, and after 3 minutes – the mushrooms.
Season, add butter, fry everything together for another 5 minutes, and pour in water. Close the Afghan kazan with the lid and heat until steam appears. Cook the soup for 20 minutes over medium heat and then let it steep for another 15 minutes without opening the lid.
10. Bean Soup in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockBeans should traditionally be soaked overnight.
You will need: 1 kg meat, 1 cup beans, 5 potatoes, 2 carrots, 1 bell pepper, 2 tomatoes, 2 onions, 1 bunch herbs, vegetable oil, garlic, salt, spices.
Preparation: Chop all ingredients for the soup and drain the water from the soaked beans. Lightly sauté the onion with carrots and bell pepper in the Afghan kazan. Add the remaining ingredients, including minced herbs and garlic. Pour in water, season, and close the kazan with the lid, bring to a boil, and cook the soup for about 1 hour over medium heat. Then release the steam and only then open the kazan.
12 Delicious Cauldron Soup Recipes Cooked Over an Open Fire
11. Rassolnik (Pickle Soup) in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockYou don't need to pre-cook the pearl barley – just rinse it.
You will need: 1 kg meat, 700 g potatoes, 200 g pearl barley, 400 g carrots, 400 g pickled cucumbers, 200 g onions, 4 cloves garlic, 400 ml pickle brine, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 100 g butter, 3-4 liters water, salt, spices.
Preparation: Mince the onion, grate the carrot, finely chop the pickled cucumbers, and cut the potatoes and meat into larger pieces. Sauté the onion with carrots in butter until soft, add the cucumbers and fry for a few more minutes.
Mix the sautéed vegetables with tomato paste and spices, layer the meat on top, and then the potatoes. Add all other ingredients and pour in water. Close the Afghan kazan with the lid, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook the rassolnik for 45-50 minutes.
12. Chicken Noodle Soup in an Afghan Kazan
Source: AdobeStockNote that the noodles will need to be cooked separately.
You will need: 1 chicken, 3 onions, 2 carrots, 3 celery stalks, 600 g noodles, vegetable oil, salt, spices.
Preparation: Place the chicken, 1 whole onion, 1 carrot, and 1 celery stalk into the Afghan kazan. Add spices for the broth, pour in water, close the kazan with the lid, and cook the broth for approximately 30 minutes after steam starts escaping from the valves.
During this time, chop and sauté the remaining vegetables and cook the noodles. Release the steam from the kazan, open the lid, remove the chicken, and shred the meat into pieces. Then return the chicken, sautéed vegetables, and noodles to the broth, and heat for a few more minutes without closing the kazan.