Surhullu: Homemade Azerbaijan Traditional Meal

Surhullu is an Azerbaijani meal prepared with dried and fresh meat dough pastry. It’s mostly prepared using mutton or sheep meat. Surhullu simply means dipping the dough, and it’s mostly cooked during winter.

Background and Origins

Surhullu originate from the mountainous regions of Azerbaijan, as a solution to the unforgiving winter. It’s one of the most popular local dishes, mostly prepared with dried meat. 

Below is the recipe.

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How to Prepare Surhullu

Key Ingredients

• ¼ tsp Salt: gives taste to your meals.
• 500g all-purpose flour: a good source of carbohydrates and energy for the body.
• 1 tbsp tomato paste: Tomatoes are a healthy source of vitamins, protect your eyesight, and support your skin’s health.
• 5 Bulgarian peppers, chopped: fights inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. It also supports your digestive system.
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil: They are plant-based and low in cholesterol. Vegetable oils are healthy for your heart.
• 2 medium onions, chopped: rich in compounds that regulate blood sugar, support gut and bone health, and your heart.
• 400g of mutton or sheep meat, cubed: a great source of protein. Mutton, among other meats, helps in weight loss and has great iron content. 
• A cup of water

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Instructions on How to Prepare Surhullu

1. Wash and put the meat into a cooking pot. Add enough water to cover the mutton and cook for 30 minutes. Drain the broth when the meat is cooked and set aside, leaving the meat in the saucepan. 
2. Add the chopped onion and vegetable oil to the meat on fire and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
3. Scoop in the Bulgarian pepper and tomato paste and continue to stir-fry.
4. Add the broth when all the ingredients are well-fried. Allow the soup to boil on low heat for 20 minutes.
5. Once the soup is on low heat boiling, work on the dough. 
6. Add the flour, a little salt, and a little water to a bowl. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is even and soft.
7. Cover the dough and allow it to ferment for 30 minutes. After, cut the dough into small portions and roll them in flour to 1 cm thick.
8. Then cut the dough into pieces of 4 cm each and roll them in flour, leaving dips with your fingertips. This will result in boat-shaped pieces of dough.
9. Next, pour enough water into a cooking pot and sprinkle a pinch of salt. Add the pieces of dough to the boiling pot, stirring gently. Cook for 10-15 minutes.
10. To serve, scoop pieces of dough from the boiling water into a bowl. Ladle and add the soup. 
11. Garnish with chopped garlic and adjika. (Optional)
12. Enjoy your surhullu!

Tips for Making Azerbaijan Surhullu

• You can use other types of meat like beef or chicken.
• Use spices of your choice to steam the meat or prepare the surhullu. These spices could include ginger, garlic, hot pepper, celery, mint leaves, and basil.
• Cook your meat longer until it’s soft to your choice.
• Don’t add the pieces of dough to the soup but cook them separately. This is to prevent them from breaking.

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Conclusion

In seasons like winter, a hot soup like surhullu with boat-shaped dough is what you need to fight the cold. It’s healthy, hearty and delicious to prepare and eat any day, anytime.

Happy New Year!