Ribena chorba

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Ribena chorba is a traditional fish soup that is prepared with different kinds of fish or fish heads and chunks of vegetables cooked in a fish broth. Bulgarian fish soup is generally made with a variety of either freshwater or saltwater fish which are cooked in salted water, cut into pieces, and then simmered with chunks of vegetables, herbs, and spices in a fish broth. Typical vegetables include potatoes, carrots, onions, peppers, garlic, and tomatoes, while the selection of herbs includes tarragon, lovage, bay leaves, parsley, allspice, thyme, and dill. The soup is often enhanced with a roux of butter and paprika or a mixture of beaten eggs and sour milk. Chopped parsley and black pepper are usually sprinkled on top of the hot soup, and the soup is often drizzled with some lemon juice before serving. A glass of strong rakija and a slice of pitka (a type of Bulgarian bread) often accompany this soup. In Bulgaria, fish soup is traditionally prepared on holidays such as Nikulden.