The nutritious and satisfying tarhana soup, a staple of traditional Turkish cuisine, is now being reinterpreted for little gourmets! Together with Chef Ezgi Bal, we’ve created a baby-friendly tarhana recipe that is easy to digest, packed with vitamins, and perfectly suited for babies’ delicate palates and nutritional needs.
What is Tarhana?
Tarhana is a unique Turkish classic made from fermented flour, yogurt, and vegetables—typically red peppers and onions. It’s known for its rich, slightly tangy flavor and hearty consistency. Almost every region of Türkiye has its own variation, making tarhana both versatile and a comforting dish passed down through generations. Our recipe aims to capture the purest and most nutritious version suitable for babies.
Choosing Tarhana for Babies
- Tomato Content: Avoid tomatoes for babies under one year, as their acidity can irritate delicate skin. Choose tarhana without tomatoes.
- Organic Ingredients: Babies’ sensitive systems benefit from tarhana made with organic, high-quality ingredients. Consider the type of flour and its gluten content.
- Gluten-Free Options: Gluten-free tarhana is ideal for families with gluten sensitivities. Olizzi is excited to share that our upcoming tarhana will likely be gluten-free.
- Tarhana Herb: The herbs used in tarhana give the soup its characteristic flavor.
Ingredients
- Tarhana (pre-soaked in water until smooth)
- Olizzi Baby Organic Olive Oil
- Whey from homemade labneh (optional, adds nutrients)
- Optional for adults: garlic, tomato paste, spices
Step-by-Step Preparation
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Dissolve the Tarhana:
Soak the tarhana in water and stir until smooth to prevent clumps and ensure a uniform texture. -
Heat the Olive Oil:
Gently heat a generous amount of Olizzi Baby Organic Olive Oil in a pot. This cold-pressed oil, specially harvested for babies, has a delicate aroma, enriches the soup, and is easy for little ones to digest. For adults, you can add crushed garlic while heating to enhance the flavor. -
Cook the Tarhana:
Add the dissolved tarhana to the warm olive oil and stir constantly until it thickens. For extra nutrition, you can also add whey from homemade labneh, which adds protein, vitamins, and helps adjust the soup’s consistency. Whey can be stored in the fridge for 4–5 days. -
Adjust the Consistency:
For babies, aim for a smooth, slightly thin texture. For adults, adjust to your preferred thickness by adding more whey or water. -
Add Flavor and Serve:
Before serving, drizzle a little more Olizzi Baby Organic Olive Oil over the soup to enrich the flavor and aid digestion. Adults can enhance the soup with garlic, tomato paste, or spices according to taste.
Why Choose Olizzi Baby Organic Olive Oil?
Olizzi Baby Organic Olive Oil is specially crafted for babies’ sensitive systems. Olives are harvested at the alaca stage—when they are turning from green to purple—for optimal flavor and nutrition. Cold-pressed, this oil has low acidity, a smooth taste, and is rich in natural antioxidants and healthy olive oil acids.
Tips for Tarhana Soup
- For Babies: Ensure the tarhana is tomato-free and ideally gluten-free.
- For Adults: Personalize your soup with garlic, red pepper paste, or other spices.
- Nutrient Boost: Using quality ingredients and adding whey creates a true nutritional powerhouse, rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber—perfect for babies’ healthy growth.
Tarhana soup is more than a meal—it’s tradition, warmth, and comfort in a bowl. Whether for your family or as a culinary experiment, it’s a welcome addition to any menu.
Enjoy!
Follow our step-by-step YouTube tutorial to see all the details of this recipe.