Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 onions, sliced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
  • 14 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 14 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 20 sprigs cilantro
  • 20 sprigs Italian parsley
  • 8 Spanish saffron threads, lightly toasted
  • 12 cup wheat berries
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup lentils, rinsed and picked over
  • 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • fresh ground pepper
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten (optional)
  • 2 lemons, juice of (optional)
  • cilantro leaf
  • lemon wedge
  • crusty bread

Method

  • Heat oil in large soup pot over medium-high heat.
  • Fry onions, stirring occasionally, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, blend tomatoes, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cilantro, parsley and saffron in blender.
  • Add to onions, cover and bring to rolling boil over high heat.
  • Lower heat to medium, add wheat berries and broth and cover tightly.
  • Cook until wheat berries are fairly tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
  • Add lentils and garbanzo beans with liquid.
  • Cover and cook until lentils are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
  • Ten minutes before serving, lower heat to simmer and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Just before serving, beat egg with lemon juice in small bowl and add to soup, stirring with long wooden spoon until mixture forms strands.
  • Ladle soup into individual soup bowls.
  • Top with cilantro and serve immediately with lemon wedges and crusty bread.