Tarhana (Turkish Yogurt Soup)

Dissolve the sugar in the tepid water and sprinkle the dried yeast on top. Allow to soften 5 minutes or so and stir.

5 minutes

Blanche, peel, and seed the tomatoes. Peel and roughly chop the onions. Remove the stem, seeds and membrane from the green peppers and cut roughly.

In a blender or food processor, purée the tomatoes, onion, green pepper and yogurt in batches.

Combine all the ingredients except the flour and mix well. Gradually add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Knead for 5–10 minutes until smooth and elastic then place in a large non-reactive bowl and cover with waxed paper (don't use plastic wrap). Let stand at room temperature for 10–12 days. Punch down the dough once a day. If the dough becomes watery, knead in some more flour. Let stand until the dough no longer rises and has lost its stretch.

5–10 minutes

Rub the dough between your hands onto a tray covered with parchment paper so that it forms small pieces. Cover the tray with cheesecloth or other protective mesh and leave to dry in a cool, well ventilated place. As it dries, break the dough into smaller pieces eventually crumbling it as small as you can. When it is completely dry (a week or more) pulverize in a blender, a little at a time. Store in freezer bags or large jars. Store in a cool place or refrigerate. May be kept up to 12 months.

To make tarhana soup, mix 1 cup of the dried dough mix with 3 cups of water or meat stock. Mix with a wooden spoon until softened. Add more water or stock to make a thickish soup with a creamy consistency. Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and cook for 15–20 minutes. Pour into bowls and garnish with croûtons, parsley, or paprika-infused butter or olive oil, if desired.

15–20 minutes

Serve with Turkish bread or a crisp baguette.