Hearty Soups To Warm Body And Soul

Try the unique flavor of this traditional Polish dish—and find out where some of Bergen’s best soups are served.

 

Casseroles and big meaty mains are sure-fire comforts during winter, but nothing soothes the soul and warms the body like a steaming bowl of soup. Remember when Mom or Grandma cooked up a batch of hearty chicken noodle when you were under the weather? The broth, the morsels of tender chicken and veggies made everything better.

You can try to replicate the soup you had as a child and serve it to your own family—or you can try something different.

Below is a recipe and stress-free directions to make Zurek, a traditional Polish soup made with fermented rye flour, mouth-watering white sausage and more delicious ingredients.

Traditional Zurek Soup

Yields: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

For the fermented rye flour starter

• 5 Tbs. of rye flour
• 2 cups of purified water

For the soup

• 35 oz. of smoked pork bones
• 10 oz of bacon
• 3 qts. of water
• 5 allspice berries
• 3 bay leaves
• 4 white sausages
• 1 onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 Tbs. of dried marjoram
• 2 Tbs. of salt
• 1 Tbs. of oil

Add-ons to choose

• 2 boiled potatoes
• 2 boiled eggs

 

DIRECTIONS

Making the fermented rye starter (zakwas)

In a clean glass jar, mix rye flour with warm, purified water.  Cover the jar with a linen cloth or gauze. Place it in a cold (68°F), dark place. Stir zakwas twice a day. After 5-7 days, it is ready to use.

Cooking the soup

Pour water into a big pot. Add allspice berries and bay leaves and bring to boil.

Reduce the heat. Add smoked pork bones, bacon and white sausage. Cook for about 30 minutes, but don’t bring it to a boil!

In the meantime, peel and dice an onion, then fry it in oil.

Take off the meat. Dice the bacon and cut the white sausage into slices or bigger chunks. You may also remove meat from the bones and dice it.

Stir zakwas for about 1 minute, making sure there are no lumps.

Bring the soup to boil, reduce the heat, then slowly start pouring zakwas into it, stirring all the time.

Cook for about 5 minutes.

Turn off the heat. Add onion, meat, crushed garlic cloves, marjoram and salt.

Click here to read our January issue, where we feature this recipe as well as directions to make traditional kharcho soup.

 

5 Spots For Superb Soups

Culinary skills not up to the task? You can always venture out for a taste of some of Bergen County’s best broths, bisques, chowders and more. Be sure to check out these eateries, where there’s plenty of soup for you:

Kosher Nosh, Glen Rock. You can order memorable sandwiches and platters from this neighborhood eatery, but always remember to get their chicken consommé with matzo balls. It’s a standout recipe—one of the reasons why the deli is a repeat winner in BERGEN’s Readers’ Choice Poll.
*894 Prospect St., Glen Rock, 201.445.1186

Ramen Azuma, Englewood, Hackensack. Instant ramen has nothing on the noods dished out at this popular restaurant. Each serving is massive, delicious and photogenic. Get yours with sliced pork and veggies, or go with something vegetarian or with chicken.
*39 S. Van Brunt St., Englewood, 201.567.1283; 108 S. State St., Hackensack, 201.408.9505

The Rolling Pin Café, Westwood. This old-time eatery serves homemade comfort food, including hot soups. Their heart-warming menu features freshly made daily specials—one of our favorites is the vegetable barley soup and smoked turkey sandwich combo. That’s good eatin’!
*341 Broadway, Westwood, 201.666.4660

Soup Dumpling Plus, Fort Lee. You can get wonton or hot and sour soup at this Chinese restaurant, but (as their name suggests) the soup dumplings here are the star. Order them filled with pork, crab or more—as well as the delish broth.
*1550 Lemoine Ave., Fort Lee, 201.944.0901

Soup Maison, Fair Lawn. Though ownership has changed since the shop’s beginning, their concept remains the same: delicious and different soup specials every day. The menu is updated daily on Instagram—make sure you order the Turkish red lentil if it’s one of the daily choices!
*11-08 Saddle River Rd., Fair Lawn, 201.254.9281

 

Share your favorite soup recipe with BERGEN magazine. Send it to editor Rita Guarna at rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.