---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.02

     Title: PARCHA BOZBASH (LAMB SOUP WITH CHESTNUTS QUIN
Categories: Soups, Lamb/mutton, Ayzeri
     Yield: 4 servings

     1 lb Boneless lean lamb
          ; cut in 1" cubes
          Salt; to taste
          Pepper, black; to taste
     3 tb Butter
     1 md Onion, finely chopped
     4 c  Beef broth
     1 md Potato, peeled and cubed
     1 sm Quince; peeled/cored/cubed
   1/2 c  Dried pitted prunes
          OR 1 c fresh sour prunes
   1/4 lb Chestnuts, shelled & peeled
   2/3 c  Canned chick-peas*
          ; drained & rinsed
     2 tb Ghi

 Season the lamb with salt and pepper.  In a heavy pot,
 melt the 3 tb. butter over moderate heat.  Add the
 lamb and onion; saute until browned, stirring
 frequently.  Add the broth; season to taste with salt.
 Cover; simmer 30 minutes.

 Add the potato, quince, prunes, and chestnuts.  Cover;
 simmer 20 minutes. Add the chick-peas and simmer,
 covered, about 15 minutes or until done. Stir in the
 clarified butter and allow to melt before serving soup.

 Note:  1/4 tsp. ginger or a pinch of powdered saffron
 dissolved in 2 tb. warm water may be added with the
 chick-peas, and the soup served sprinkled with 1 ts.
 crushed dried mint, accompanied by chopped onion and
 sumakh on the side.  In the Caucasus, ground kyurdyuk
 is normally used instead of the clarified butter, and
 dried chick-peas* rather than canned ones. The dried
 chick-peas are soaked several hours, drained, and
 added at the beginning with the broth.

 Personal note:  I've found sumakh (labelled as sumac,
 a spice mixture) at Middle Eastern groceries.

 The author describes this soup as an "outstanding"
 Azerbaidzhani soup.

 From "Cooking from the Caucasus" by Sonia Uvezian.
 New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1978.  Pp. 52-53.
 ISBN 0-15-622594-8.  Posted by Cathy Harned.
 Submitted By SAM WARING
 <[email protected]>  On   WED, 01
 NOV 1995 134731 GMT

-----