North Africa · Soup
Shorba Arabiya (Libyan Mint and Lamb Soup with Orzo)
A velvety spiced tomato and lamb broth studded with tender orzo pasta and finished with a fragrant lift of crushed dried mint.
The story
Across Libya, from Tripoli to Benghazi, Shorba Arabiya is the undisputed sovereign of the Ramadan iftar table, served nightly to break the fast. While neighboring Maghrebi soups lean heavily on lentils or thick roux, the Libyan iteration is defined by a bright, fiery tomato base enriched with minuscule cubes of lamb. Historically, the addition of dried mint crushed directly between the palms at the moment of turning off the heat is non-negotiable, as boiling the herb would destroy its volatile aromatic oils and impart bitterness.
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