After having read the recipes for Goulougoos from Dr. Jantzen’s mother-in-law, Isgouhi Sarkahian, and the one from the Magzanian sister’s cookbook, I decided to create my own version.
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| My version of Goulougoos |
On to the grocery store: Malanga; chick peas, lamb – check. All other ingredients are readily on hand.
I combined the parts of two recipes I liked best, then added my own twist. I decided that canned chick peas would save preparation time, too. (Forgive me, purists!) It takes some time to make, but on a cold, wintery day, you’ll be glad you made the effort.
Word of advice: if you have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go (“mise en place”, in culinary terms), it will save you time in the long-run.
Goulougoos ala The Armenian Kitchen
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
1 cup canned chick peas, drained, rinsed
2 lbs. Malanga**, peeled, and roughly cut into bite-sized pieces
juice from 1 lemon
dash of salt
water to cover
**Robyn’s note: Can’t find malanga? Use potatoes instead.
1 lb. Lamb shoulder, or stewing lamb, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
salt and pepper to taste1 bay leaf
2 cups plain yogurt
1 egg, beaten
2 Tbsp. Tomato paste1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper½ cup waterjuice from ½ lemonsalt & pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. Drain and rinse chick peas. Set aside until ready to use.
2. In a large bowl, cover the peeled and cut malanga with water. Add lemon juice and a dash of salt. Set aside.3. Place lamb pieces in a large pot. Add enough water to cover meat and bring to a rolling boil, cooking for several minutes. Drain and rinse meat to remove any scum that has risen to the surface. Wash out the pot to remove any scum residue as well.4. Return meat to cleaned pot; add enough water to cover meat. Add salt and pepper to taste, and bay leaf. Cook, covered, for about 1 to 1 ½ hours or until meat is tender. Discard bay leaf.5. Drain malanga. Add it -and- chick peas to meat. Cook about another 20 minutes, or until malanga is tender.
(Robyn’s Note: You can prepare the recipe up to this point ahead of time. Place soup in a bowl with a tight-fitting lid, label and refrigerate. Just before serving, heat the lamb-malanga soup thoroughly, then continue with the yogurt preparation below.)
6. Prepare yogurt while soup is cooking:
A. Using a 3-quart saucepan, combine beaten egg with 2 cups plain yogurt.B. Blend tomato paste, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper with ½ cup water. Stir intoyogurt-egg mixture.C. Cook on LOW heat, stirring constantly until yogurt is hot, but NOT boiling.D. Add to soup once malanga is tender.E. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Serve immediately with crusty bread for dipping.
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ROBYN, WHAT IS MALANGA? I NEVER HEARD OF IT.
To be honest, before learning about this recipe, I didn't know what malanga was either. It's a potato-like tuber belonging to the same family as the taro root. It should be peeled and cooked before eating and has an earthy, somewhat nutlike flavor. It can be found in Latin American markets and some specialty produce stores. Just as you'd cook a potato, malanga can also be boiled, baked, fried, etc.