Soups📍 MunteniaEasy🥗 Vegetarian🐟 Pescatarian🌾 Gluten-free💪 High-protein🥦 Clean eating🫒 Mediterranean

Romanian Tomato Sour Soup

Name: Romanian Tomato Sour Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Romanian
Ingredients: 800 g ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped (or 400 ml homemade tomato purée + 400 ml water); 1 large onion, finely chopped; 1 medium carrot, finely diced; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 2 celery stalks with leaves, chopped; 1.5 L water or clear vegetable broth; 50 g rice or thin noodles (optional); 2 tbsp sunflower oil; 1 tsp sugar; salt and black pepper to taste; juice of 1 lemon (or 200 ml fermented borș, boiled separately); 2 egg yolks; 150 ml full-fat sour cream; 1 large bunch fresh basil or fresh parsley, chopped

Ciorbă de roșii is a light and refreshing summer soup made from ripe tomatoes, seasonal vegetables, and naturally soured with lemon juice or borș. Finished with a sour cream and egg dressing, it is a simple, colorful, and flavorful dish typical of traditional Romanian summer cooking.

🍽️

Servings

⏱️

Prep

15 min

🔥

Cook

45 min

⏰

Total

60 min

🥘Ingredients

servings

Tomato soup base

For souring

Dressing and finishing

📝Preparation steps 🗓️Add to Meal Planner🎨Serving & Presentation

✅Dietary Compatibility

🥗Vegetarian🐟Pescatarian🌾Gluten-free💪High-protein🥦Clean eating🫒Mediterranean

🍽️

Yield

approx. 2 L soup

📦Storage

❄️

Refrigerator

Up to 3 days in a sealed container; reheat gently without boiling

🧊

Freezer

Without dressing — can be frozen up to 2 months; add fresh dressing when reheating

🥗Nutrition Facts

Values per serving (approx. 350 ml), without rice

🔥

Calories

180 kcal

🥩

Protein

5 g

🧈

Fat

11 g

🍞

Carbohydrates

17 g

🌾

Fiber

3 g

🍷Pairs Well With

🥂Fresh white bread or croutons

🥂Full-fat sour cream

🥂Fresh basil

🥂Dry summer rosé wine

💡Variations

Add 1–2 diced zucchini with the vegetables for a richer summer soup.

Make a fasting version by omitting the egg and sour cream dressing — sour with lemon only and finish with olive oil.

Blend the soup completely for a smooth tomato cream — serve with croutons and basil.