Tsouvras

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Tsouvras or ntomatosoupa is a humble soup from the small Greek island of Tilos, in the Aegean Sea. It is typically made with peeled and crushed ripe tomatoes, onions, water, salt, and pepper. After being sautéed in olive oil, the finely chopped onions are combined with the tomatoes and rice, and everything’s covered with water. The mixture is simmered until the rice and tomatoes are soft and cooked through, and the soup becomes slightly thickened and fragrant. There are variations on the soup that omit the use of onions, while others call for using bulgur instead of rice. This simple tomato soup can be enjoyed hot or chilled, and it's often garnished with fresh mint or other aromatic herbs. Another common topping for this traditional specialty is grated local cheese.