Manti Soup for Iftar: Nourishment for All Ages

According to SAEDNEWS, Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast, is one of the most important meals of the day. It should be light yet nutritious. Soups are among the best choices for iftar, as they help replenish your body’s water and energy needs after fasting and reduce feelings of hunger and thirst.

Manti soup is a delicious Turkish-inspired dish that combines legumes, bulgur, herbs, meat, and more, making it highly nutritious. In this guide, we will introduce you to a step-by-step recipe for manti soup.

Preparing the Manti

Before making the soup, start by preparing the manti dumplings. Follow these steps:

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, salt, eggs, and olive oil, and knead until a smooth, uniform dough forms.

2. Roll the dough to a thickness of 3 mm and cut into small 3×3 cm squares.

3. Mix the fried onion, ground meat, grated onion, and spices together.

4. Place a pea-sized amount of the meat mixture on each dough square, fold it into a triangle, and shape it into a small crescent.

Instructions:

1. Soak the rice and bulgur for a few hours.

2. Chop the onion and garlic, sauté in a little oil until fragrant.

3. Add the soaked rice, bulgur, and broth to the pot, and cook over low heat.

4. Once the rice and bulgur are cooked, add the soup greens and cooked lentils.

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Adding the Manti

1. Boil the manti in water for 3–5 minutes, then drain.

2. Add the manti to the soup and allow them to cook fully.

3. Once ready, serve the soup in a bowl and garnish with fried onions and garlic.

Tips and Notes

• Total cooking time is about 2 hours.

• Manti soup can be served for lunch, dinner, snacks, or as an appetizer.

• It’s perfect for iftar during Ramadan.

• The recipe serves 8 people.

• You can use soaked raw lentils instead of pre-cooked lentils.

• Manti can also be made using ready-made phyllo dough.

• Make small, neat manti for a more visually appealing soup.