Rechta - Recipe & Story

 Rechta

1 large carrot 

2 pieces celery with leaves

2 hand fulls of spinach

1 tablespoon oil

Salt & pepper to taste

Meat of your choice (chicken, 9adit, beef) 

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon harissa (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)

Handful of noodles (homemade are best but fettuccine works too)*

1.  Cut the carrot, celery, and meat into bite size pieces.

2.  Saute carrots, celery, and spinach in oil until carrots start to get soft.  Season to taste with salt and pepper. (I used roughly 1 tsp each)

2. Stir in meat, tomato paste and harissa.

3. Give the tomato paste a minute to cook (make sure it doesn’t burn on the bottom by stirring) then add in enough water to cover with about one cup more on top.

4. Let everything simmer for about 45 minutes. (Check every now and then and add a little more water as needed.)

5. If you’re using fresh, homemade pasta, turn off the heat and submerged the noodles in the soup.  If using store bought, allow the noodles to boil per the instructions on the box before turning off the heat.

*To make noodles mix 1 cup flour, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons water into a smooth dough.  Let rest for 30 minutes then roll thin and cut into strips.

———————

Here’s a story about a kitchen escapade from nearly eight years ago. Now, I'm all about whipping up homemade pasta—seriously, my tortellini game is on point. So, I had this grand plan to make up some homemade, fettuccine-style noodles with a creamy mushroom sauce. But then, out of the blue, my husband strolls in and drops the bombshell: "Hey, are we having rechta with veggies tonight?"

Cue panic mode! Rechta, if you're not familiar, is like the ultimate comfort food. It's all about those warm, doughy noodles in a soul-soothing broth, sometimes jazzed up with fava beans or some tasty 9adit (basically sheep jerky, but way tastier).

I was torn! Stick to the plan or dive into uncharted culinary waters? After a brief internal debate, I decided to go for it. But first, I needed backup. Enter my culinary hero: my mother-in-law. Armed with a pen and paper (and a healthy dose of determination), I sought her wisdom.

And let me tell you, it was a revelation! With her guidance and a jar of her homemade harissa, I was ready to take on the challenge. And guess what? It was a piece of cake! Or should I say, a bowl of rechta?

When my husband came home to find a piping hot bowl of rechta waiting for him, his face lit up like a kid in a candy store. And me? Well, let's just say I felt like a culinary rockstar.

So, next time you're faced with a kitchen conundrum, don't be afraid to roll with the punches. Who knows? You might just discover your new favorite dish. Cheers to culinary adventures, my friends! 🍝✨