Soups📍 All of RomaniaEasy🌾 Gluten-free🥩 Low-carb / Keto💪 High-protein

Lettuce Soup with Smoked Meat

Name: Lettuce Soup with Smoked Meat
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Romanian
Ingredients: 1 large head of lettuce (or 2 small), cut into strips; 200–300 g smoked pork (smoked belly or smoked sausage); 1 large onion, finely chopped; 2 medium carrots, sliced or diced; 1 parsley root, diced; 2 tbsp sunflower oil; 1.5 L water or pork stock; 1 bay leaf; salt and black pepper to taste; 200 ml borș (or 2 tbsp white vinegar); 2 egg yolks; 150 ml sour cream (20–25% fat); fresh lovage or dill, chopped; hot pepper (optional)

A spring soup made with fresh lettuce, smoked pork, and borș — light, refreshing, and aromatic, ready in under an hour.

🍽️

Servings

⏱️

Prep

15 min

🔥

Cook

40 min

⏰

Total

55 min

🥘Ingredients

servings

Main ingredients

For souring

For dressing

For serving

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

✅Dietary Compatibility

🌾Gluten-free🥩Low-carb / Keto💪High-protein

🍽️

Yield

approx. 1.8 L soup

📦Storage

❄️

Refrigerator

Up to 2 days in a sealed container (without the dressing)

🧊

Freezer

Freezing not recommended — the lettuce loses its texture

🥗Nutrition Facts

Values per serving (approx. 300 ml)

🔥

Calories

180 kcal

🥩

Protein

10 g

🧈

Fat

13 g

🍞

Carbohydrates

7 g

🌾

Fiber

2 g

🍷Pairs Well With

🥂Full-fat sour cream

🥂Homemade bread

🥂Soft polenta

🥂Pickled hot peppers

💡Variations

Replace smoked meat with fried bacon for a crunchier version.

Add hard-boiled egg quarters at serving for a heartier soup.

Fasting version: omit the smoked meat and dressing, add more seasonal vegetables.