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Kremithosoupa

Origin: GeorgianPeriod: Traditional

Kremithosoupa is a traditional Georgian clear soup built upon a foundation of onions, potatoes, and tomato sauce simmered in water with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Despite its classification among consommés and clear broths, it retains a humble, rustic character defined by its straightforward vegetable base and transparent yet flavourful broth. The name itself derives from the Greek word 'kremitho' (κρεμμύδι), meaning onion, suggesting possible cross-cultural culinary influences along the Black Sea and Caucasus trading corridors. It represents a category of simple, nourishing soups common to Georgian village cooking traditions.

Cultural Significance

The precise historical record of Kremithosoupa as a named dish within the Georgian culinary canon is not thoroughly documented in major ethnographic sources, making definitive claims about its origins and ceremonial role difficult to establish with certainty. Its ingredient profile, however, reflects the broader tradition of economical, vegetable-forward soups that have sustained Georgian rural households for centuries, particularly in regions where the overlap of Greek, Ottoman, and Caucasian foodways produced hybridised culinary practices. Further scholarly research into regional Georgian manuscript cookbooks and oral food traditions would be necessary to fully illuminate this dish's cultural provenance.

Prep15 min
Cook20 min
Total35 min
Servings4
Difficultyintermediate

Ingredients

Method

1
Peel and finely slice the onions, then peel the potatoes and cut them into small, even cubes.
10 minutes
2
Heat a generous drizzle of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add the sliced onions and sauté until softened and translucent.
8 minutes
3
Add the cubed potatoes to the pot and stir to coat them in the olive oil and onions, cooking briefly to lightly toast the surfaces.
3 minutes
4
Pour in the tomato sauce and stir well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
2 minutes
5
Add the water to the pot, bringing the total volume sufficient to fully submerge the vegetables, then season generously with salt and pepper.
2 minutes
6
Raise the heat to high and bring the soup to a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
5 minutes
7
Simmer the soup uncovered until the potatoes are completely tender and the broth has developed a light, clear consistency.
20 minutes
8
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed, then ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately.
2 minutes

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