Spicy Trahana Soup with Fresh Seafood

3.94 from 16 votes
Trahana is a tangy, sun-dried milk- or yogurt-infused grain product that is one the oldest foods in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was a way to preserve fresh milk before the advent of refrigeration and dates back thousands of years. It is found in various forms and shapes all over Greece, and especially in rural communities where shepherding is still a living tradition. This Greek recipe for trahana soup is from Evia, just an hour or so from Athens. I’ve married the traditions of land and sea in this delicious, thick and creamy soup.


3.94 from 16 votes

Spicy Trahana Soup with Fresh Seafood

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 7
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 7

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds (1.8 kg) fresh mussels, scrubbed and beards removed, or 6 cups cleaned thawed frozen mussels
  • 1 cup (240 ml) dry white wine, plus more for steaming mussels
  • ½ cup (120 ml) extra-virgin Greek olive oil
  • 1 pound (450 g) medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • ½ cup (120 ml) sour trahana
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or boukovo Greek red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups (480 ml) pureed fresh or finely chopped good-quality canned tomatoes
  • Salt and freshly ground white pepper
  • 3 tablespoons strained fresh lemon juice
  • 5 ounces (140 g) Greek feta, crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  • Fill a large wide pot with wine to a depth of l inch (2.5 cm). Place the mussels in a steamer basket and place the basket in the pot. Cover, bring the wine to a simmer over medium-high heat, and steam until the mussels have opened, about 5 minutes. Discard any that haven't opened. Strain the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or coffee filter and set aside. Remove the mussels from their shells, keeping a few in the shell as a garnish.
  • In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over high heat. Add the shrimp and mussels, and sear until the shrimp turn bright pink. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • In a soup pot, heat the remaining 6 tablespoons (90 ml) olive oil over medium heat. Add the
trahana, and stir to coat with the oil. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes.
  • Add 1 cup of wine and 1 cup of mussel steaming liquid or clam juice. As soon as it starts to evaporate, add 6 cups (1.4 L) water and the tomatoes and cook over medium heat until the soup starts to thicken and the trahana softens. Season to taste with salt and white pepper. Add the mussels, shrimp, and any juices that have collected in the bowl or skillet to the pot. Mix gently. Stir in the lemon juice, feta, and parsley, if using. Remove from the heat.
  • Garnish the soup with steamed mussels in their shells and parsley and serve.

❤️ Enjoyed this Recipe?

Share this recipe on Facebook or Instagram!

Mention @dianekohcilas & tag #dianekochilas!

Diane’s Greek Single-origin Artisanal Foods

Visit my online shop for a wide selection of Greek single-origin artisanal foods, from honeys to wild herbs, olives, olive oils, pistachios, heirloom grain products, fruit preserves and more.

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Travel Cook Eat & Live with Diane

Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

Latest Recipes

More

Lemon Potato Smashers

Lemon Potato Smashers

Seafood Stew

Seafood Stew

Lentil Sweet Potato Soup

Lentil–Sweet Potato Soup with Spinach and Sage

Broccoli cauliflower salad

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with Feta and Lemon-Dill Dressing

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Longevity Recipes

More

Featured In

My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo

D|K