Dovga

Ingredients

• 200g ground beef or lamb
• 1 small onion, grated, plus 1 extra for the soup
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 4 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 4 cups chicken or beef broth
• 1/3 cup rice
• 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
• 2 cups spinach, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped dill
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped mint
• 2 tablespoons chopped chives

Before you cook

• Mix the ground meat with the grated onion, salt and pepper and roll into marble-sized meatballs.
• Chop the spinach, dill, cilantro, mint and chives and keep them together in a bowl.

Steps

1. Whisk the yogurt, flour and egg together in a large pot until completely smooth.
2. Whisk in the broth gradually.
3. Set the pot over low heat and bring it to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly in one direction to stop it curdling.
4. Once it starts to thicken slightly, add the meatballs and rice.
5. Simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meatballs and rice are cooked through.
6. Stir in the chickpeas and spinach.
7. Simmer for 5 more minutes until the spinach wilts.
8. Stir in the dill, cilantro, mint and chives.
9. Taste and adjust the salt.
10. Simmer for 2 more minutes, then remove from the heat.
11. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve warm.