Azerbaijani Kefir And Greens Soup - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
6 cups vegetable stock or 6 cups water
1/2 cup yellow split peas, soaked for 4 hours and drained
1/3 cup long-grain rice
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
3 cups plain kefir or 3 cups yogurt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
8 ounces spinach, stemmed, washed and chopped (about 5 cups)
1 teaspoon salt
1 pinch sugar
4 -5 scallions, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh mint, chopped or 1 tablespoon dried mint
ground sumac, for garnish

Preparation

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat and saute the onion until soft and translucent.
Add the stock and bring to a boil. Add the split peas, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Add the rice, partially cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Stir the flour into the kefir (or yogurt). Add the egg. Gradually whisk 2 cups of the hot soup into the kefir, then stir the kefir back into the soup pot.
Add the spinach, salt and sugar and simmer over low heat until the rice is tender, about 10 more minutes. Do not boil or the kefir will curdle.
Add the scallions, cilantro, dill and mint and simmer, stirring constantly, or 1 minute.
Remove from heat. Sprinkle a little bit of ground sumac on each serving.