Lisan Asfour Soup — Print Recipe

A comforting Egyptian soup made with orzo pasta (shaped like tiny bird tongues), simmered in a rich chicken broth with aromatic spices, often served as a warming starter.

Ingredients

1 cup orzo pasta (lisan asfour)
6 cups chicken broth
1 medium onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish
Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

1 Melt butter in a pot and saute the diced onion until translucent, then add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
2 Toast the orzo pasta in the pot with the aromatics for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the pasta turns lightly golden.
3 Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, turmeric, and cinnamon, then pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
4 Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until the orzo is tender and the soup has thickened slightly, then season with salt and pepper and serve with fresh parsley and lemon wedges.

Did You Know?

The name lisan asfour literally means bird tongues in Arabic, referring to the shape of the small orzo pasta, and this soup is a beloved remedy for cold weather across Egypt.