ARABAŞI SOUP

The dish known as Arabaşı is originally called “Ara Aşı.” It first appeared as a ceremonial meal in the Karaman Beylik in the 13th century. It spread from the Karamanlıs to neighboring beyliks and has become a festive winter dish in modern-day Yozgat, Kayseri, Nevşehir, Konya, and Afyonkarahisar.

RECIPE:

1. First, let’s prepare the dough. It needs to rest for 3-4 hours.
2. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. With the remaining 3 cups of water, dissolve the flour (i.e., mix the flour with water).
3. Slowly add the flour mixture to the boiling water while stirring continuously.
4. The consistency varies depending on the brand of flour; some flours hold well while others can be tricky. When adjusting the texture, the spoon should be hard to turn while stirring.
5. If you don’t have enough flour, reduce the heat and quickly dissolve a few more spoons of flour in water and add it to the pot.
6. When I made it previously, the consistency was perfect immediately, but with this flour, I had to repeat the process a few times. I used 20 spoons of flour, but adjust it as I described.
7. When stirring becomes difficult, the flour amount is sufficient. Keep stirring and boil continuously.
8. Wet a tray, spread the dough evenly on it, and let it rest on a cold surface for 3-4 hours.

For the soup:
9. Boil the chicken.
10. Use plenty of water when boiling because the broth will be used in the soup.
11. Shred the boiled chicken meat.
12. In a separate pot, sauté the flour in butter.
13. You can sauté the flour without butter first, then add butter afterward.
14. After the raw smell of the flour disappears, add tomato paste and red pepper flakes, then stir.
15. Slowly add the chicken broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps. If lumps form, blend the mixture before adding the shredded chicken.
16. After the soup boils, add the shredded chicken and let it cook.
17. When it boils a bit more and thickens, turn off the heat.
18. Serve the soup together with the dough.
19. Cut the dough into slices, scoop some dough with your spoon, dip it into the soup, and swallow without chewing. Enjoy your meal!