Spicy Georgian beef soup recipe
 This is a richly flavoured soup that is wonderfully spicy. It makes a really filling lunch or substantial dinner. 800g/1lb 12oz 5oz Jacob’s ladder (beef short ribs, cut into individual ribs) or beef shin2 tbsp sunflower oil 2 onions, thinly sliced 1 bay leaf5 black peppercorns2 dried chillissalt and freshly ground black pepper 800g/1lb 12oz 5oz Jacob’s ladder (beef short ribs, cut into individual ribs) or beef shin 2 tbsp sunflower oil 2 onions, thinly sliced 1 bay leaf 5 black peppercorns 2 dried chillis salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp khmeli-suneli (Georgian spice mix)1 tsp coriander seeds, lightly toastedpinch saffron 1 carrot, peeled and diced100g/3½oz white long-grain rice1 beef tomato (skin removed and discarded), grated2 tbsp pomegranate molasses4 small garlic cloves, peeled100g/3½oz walnuts, toasted and chopped into small piecessea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper2 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander, to garnish2 tbsp finely chopped purple (or regular) fresh basil, to garnish6 slices sourdough bread 1 tsp khmeli-suneli (Georgian spice mix) 1 tsp coriander seeds, lightly toasted pinch saffron 1 carrot, peeled and diced 100g/3½oz white long-grain rice 1 beef tomato (skin removed and discarded), grated 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses 4 small garlic cloves, peeled 100g/3½oz walnuts, toasted and chopped into small pieces sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander, to garnish 2 tbsp finely chopped purple (or regular) fresh basil, to garnish 6 slices sourdough bread Method For the stock, season the beef well with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meat on all sides. Place the beef in a large saucepan or casserole and cover with cold water (approximately 3 litres/5¼ pints). Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour. During cooking, skim off any scum that forms on the top of the stock. Add the onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and coriander seeds and cook for another 30–60 minutes, or until the meat is starting to fall apart and is very tender. Skim any scum from the surface of the stock again. Remove the bay leaf and peppercorns from the stock with a slotted spoon. Remove the beef from the stock with a slotted spoon, discard the bones and cut the beef into small pieces. Return the beef pieces to the stock. For the soup, add the chillies, saffron, carrot and rice to the stock in the saucepan and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomato and pomegranate molasses and cook for another 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Bash the garlic with a pinch of sea salt flakes using a pestle and mortar. Add the walnuts and pound until it turns into a paste. Add the paste to the soup and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the soup is thick. Garnish with the coriander and basil and serve in warmed bowls with the sourdough bread. For the stock, season the beef well with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meat on all sides. Place the beef in a large saucepan or casserole and cover with cold water (approximately 3 litres/5¼ pints). Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour. During cooking, skim off any scum that forms on the top of the stock. Add the onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and coriander seeds and cook for another 30–60 minutes, or until the meat is starting to fall apart and is very tender. Skim any scum from the surface of the stock again. For the stock, season the beef well with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan and brown the meat on all sides. Place the beef in a large saucepan or casserole and cover with cold water (approximately 3 litres/5¼ pints). Bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour. During cooking, skim off any scum that forms on the top of the stock. Add the onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and coriander seeds and cook for another 30–60 minutes, or until the meat is starting to fall apart and is very tender. Skim any scum from the surface of the stock again. Remove the bay leaf and peppercorns from the stock with a slotted spoon. Remove the beef from the stock with a slotted spoon, discard the bones and cut the beef into small pieces. Return the beef pieces to the stock. Remove the bay leaf and peppercorns from the stock with a slotted spoon. Remove the beef from the stock with a slotted spoon, discard the bones and cut the beef into small pieces. Return the beef pieces to the stock. For the soup, add the chillies, saffron, carrot and rice to the stock in the saucepan and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomato and pomegranate molasses and cook for another 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. For the soup, add the chillies, saffron, carrot and rice to the stock in the saucepan and cook for 10 minutes. Add the tomato and pomegranate molasses and cook for another 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Bash the garlic with a pinch of sea salt flakes using a pestle and mortar. Add the walnuts and pound until it turns into a paste. Add the paste to the soup and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the soup is thick. Garnish with the coriander and basil and serve in warmed bowls with the sourdough bread. Bash the garlic with a pinch of sea salt flakes using a pestle and mortar. Add the walnuts and pound until it turns into a paste. Add the paste to the soup and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the soup is thick. Garnish with the coriander and basil and serve in warmed bowls with the sourdough bread.