Soup for Syria: Recipes to Celebrate our Shared Humanity

December 14, 2015 7 Comments

Sometimes you find a book that fulfills many purposes. This one is pretty special.

This book can be a gift, a resource for cooking inspiration, and a source of money for the more than 4 million refugees of the Syrian civil war. I do tend to stay from politics but I believe this crisis transcends whatever strategy our government has taken (or hasn’t taken) to stop the flow of refugees out of Syria.

This book has gorgeous photos of soups and enjoyable photographs of smiling Syrian children and adult refugees living in Lebanon. Some have called it a coffee table book, but I use it to make wholesome flavorful soups.

The contributors include exciting chefs and cookbook authors such as: Anthony Bourdain, Alice Waters, Paula Wolfert, Claudia Roden, Chef Greg Maalouf, Chef Alexis Coquelet, Chef Chris Borunda, Chef Alexandra Stratou, Necibe Dogru, Aglaia Kremenzi, and many others.

The recipes come from all over the world and include easy-to-follow directions, easy-to-find ingredients, and the recipes are pretty healthy incorporating lots of vegetables (artichokes, zucchini, asparagus…).

All the profits from the sale of this book will go to the UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency. You can buy the book directly from Soup for Syria or from Amazon below.

I have included the link to the book below to purchase on Amazon.com. I will donate any affiliate profit from the purchase of this book to UNHCR – The UN Refugee Agency.

Chicken Soup

1.8 from 25 reviews

Reprinted with permission from Soup for Syria: Recipes to Celebrate Our Shared Humanity Collected and Photographed by Barbara Massaad Published by Interlink Books, $30.00 hardcover

SERVES 6-8

Print Pin

Ingredients

3 chicken legs, fat removed
1 large onion, roughly chopped
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon allspice
Salt, to taste
2 zucchinis, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped
4–5 tablespoons broken vermicelli
Juice of 1–2 lemons
1 small bunch parsley, roughly chopped

Instructions

Place the chicken in a large pot with 8 cups (2 l) water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to simmer, and add the onion, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Simmer gently until chicken is cooked, about 45 minutes. Continue to skim off the foam occasionally.

Lift the chicken from the broth and set aside to cool. Remove the bone, cartilage, and skin from the chicken and discard. Separate the meat into small pieces.

Add the chopped vegetables to the broth and cook until tender, about 25 minutes. Add the chicken pieces, vermicelli, and lemon juice. Adjust the seasoning and simmer for a few more minutes until the vermicelli is cooked al dente.

Serve steaming hot and topped with chopped parsley.

Nutrition Facts

“It was a wonderful opportunity for me to be part of this amazing project. I enjoyed sharing my family’s soup recipes. What a blessing it was for me and my daughter, Maya, to be able to participate in such a worthy cause and to meet such amazing people.”

Helena Zakharia

Points values are calculated by Snack Girl and are provided for information only. See all Snack Girl Recipes

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7 Comments:

This recipe looks delicious ..can't wait to try it! Bless you.

Mari

This is a good idea. It might make up for the shame I feel for the greed demonstrated by some in the US, (the richest country in the world).
Why there would be ANY question about helping these people, I do not know. They are desperate, and we have more riches in this country than we could ever use. Countries with many fewer resources than America, are jumping in to give the Syrian refuges the love and the welcome they so deserve.
The chance of getting hit by lightening is one in TWO million. The chance of getting killed by a terrorist is one in TWENTY million. The paranoid and abnormal fear that, by some infinitesimal chance, one of these people will turn into a terrorist and blow up America, is nothing but a lousy excuse for being a horrible person. To call oneself pro-life, yet refuse to welcome these families with open arms, is to be (there is no other way to say it), a liar.
Make America proud: demonstrate how 'Christian' nations are supposed to act. Do anything and everything to help these refuges in their time of need. Thank you, Snack Girl, for doing what you can do. None of us can do EVERYTHING, but all of us can do SOMETHING. Give these desperate people a Merry Christmas and a hopeful future.
Please.

Sue Clark, MS,LPC-S, TherapyOnLocation.com

Well said Sue, thank you! And thanks to you Lisa for featuring this book.

Holly Benton

It's a good idea but an even better idea would be to send the entire amount to UNHCR and forgo the book.

Vivian

@Vivian - I hear you. That is why I included the link to the UNHCR and you can donate on their homepage. Thanks for your comment!

Snack Girl

That look scrumptious! I don't think that the whole "Christian Nation" should be the focal point. How about show how Human beings should be treating each other. I personally don't care what a person's background is if they need my help and I have the means I'm going to help. Forget the religious background and just be a human being.

Tabatha

Hi I’ve been following you for awhile. Love the recipes. Just want to let you know I ordered Soup for Syria. Can’t wait to receive it. I believe every little bit helps. Happy Holidays

Jo Ann Burbage