TRADITIONAL ROMANIAN GARLIC CHICKEN SOUP WITH SOUR CREAM

A rich, creamy chicken soup infused with bold garlic flavor and finished with luscious sour cream. This comforting classic balances silky textures with a spicy kick from hot peppers, perfect for warming up any day. Serve with extra chili for those who love it fiery.

🕒 Prep Time: 15 min

🍳 Cook Time: 30 min (plus chicken broth preparation)
🍰 Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

2.5 liters chicken broth (prepared from ½ chicken, carrots, celery, parsley root)
350 g full-fat sour cream (25% fat)
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 hot chili pepper
7 garlic cloves
Salt, to taste
White pepper, to taste
1 tbsp vinegar (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Chicken Broth

Prepare chicken broth following your preferred recipe up to step 4 (including). For this recipe, use 2.5 liters of strained broth and meat from half a chicken.

2. Prep Ingredients

Keep the broth warm on the lowest heat, ensuring it does not boil.
Remove meat from half the chicken and shred into thin strips.
Slice the chili pepper into rings and remove seeds. Check the chili’s heat level to your liking.

3. Temper the Sour Cream

In a bowl, whisk sour cream with flour until smooth.
Gradually add about 5 ladles of hot broth to the sour cream mixture, whisking constantly to prevent lumps and curdling.

Note: Using full-fat sour cream reduces the chance of curdling.

4. Combine and Simmer

Slowly stir the tempered sour cream mixture into the warm broth, stirring frequently.
Add shredded chicken and chili slices.

5. Prepare Garlic Sauce (Mujdei)

Crush garlic cloves with salt to form a paste.
Add a small amount of hot broth to the garlic paste to make a concentrated mujdei.
Strain the mujdei through a fine mesh sieve into the soup to avoid garlic chunks.
Stir well, then taste and adjust garlic intensity. Add more mujdei if desired.

6. Final Seasoning and Serving

Add vinegar if using and season soup with salt and white pepper.
Simmer gently on low heat for 10 more minutes.
Optional: Enhance soup appearance by sautéing a carrot in oil and adding the oil (without the carrot) to the soup before serving.

💡 Tips

Keep broth from boiling after adding sour cream to avoid curdling.
Adjust chili and garlic levels to suit your heat tolerance.
Straining garlic paste keeps the soup smooth and aromatic.
Full-fat sour cream provides creaminess and stability.

🎉 Perfect For

Comforting winter meals
Fans of bold garlic and spicy soups
Traditional Romanian home cooking enthusiasts

📝 Final Thoughts

This Romanian garlic chicken soup with sour cream delivers a creamy, spicy, and aromatic experience that’s both nourishing and satisfying. Its balance of textures and flavors makes it a beloved dish for cold days, with flexibility for those who enjoy extra heat.