Croatian Roux Soup – Ajnpren Supa

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Quick and easy to make, this Croatian roux soup – ajnpren (read: eye-n-pren) supa, is a simple comfort dish that uses just a few staple ingredients but is packed with flavor.

Roux is a classic thickening agent for sauces and soups with roots dating more than 300 years. This inexpensive dish also known as poor man’s soup was usually served to soldiers and prisoners but it has become a part of traditional Croatian cuisine, as well as its neighboring countries that once were a part of Yugoslavia.

When I was growing up in Bosnia, I have shed many, many…..MANY tears over this soup. For every spoon of soup that I ate, I refilled two with my tears. In my despair, I dubbed it ‘cream of tears soup’. Might as well be called ‘poor Jas’ soup’, ha!

Granted, the anorexic picky eater that I was, I have cried over almost every meal.  But this soup was the worst! Way too often on our menu (every meal starts with some kind of soup in my homeland), I despised the roux soup and ignored it for decades. Yet this very dish makes me more nostalgic than any other from my childhood. Aren’t we humans such complex beings?

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it has become my favorite, but it did get on the “soups I like” list. My hubby had two servings and he is usually reluctant to try new things. Actually, he will try everything once. If he doesn’t like it he’ll say: “it is pretty good” and then ignore it for the rest of his life. Ha.

This roux soup is known under different names, depending on the region: prezgana juha, anpren corba, ajpren supa, and in Germany it’s called Einbrennsuppe. 🥣Some versions use an egg which makes it an egg drop soup. Either way, it’s a tasty, frugal winter dish with silky, nutty flavor.

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How to Make Croatian Roux Soup

INGREDIENTS:
Serves 4

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• Cayenne pepper to taste (optional)
• 4 cups water (can be substituted with vegetable stock but omit next ingredient!)
• 3 teaspoons Vegeta* (substitute with 2 vegetable bouillon cubes)
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
• Salt and pepper to taste

To serve: croutons and sour cream (optional)

*Vegeta – a Croatian condiment (much like bouillon in powder form) which is a mixture of spices and various dry vegetables. We like to season everything with Vegeta and use it instead of salt.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oil in a medium-size pot. Stir in the flour. With a wooden spoon or a whisk, continue to stir flour over low heat until flour is golden in color. Do not burn it!
2. Mix in paprika, cayenne pepper, and caraway seeds, if using. Slowly add water or broth continuing to stir as it thickens.
3. Season the soup with Vegeta or bouillon if you’re cooking with water. Simmer the soup, stirring frequently, for 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Serve soup in bowls topped with croutons and sour cream if you’d like. They lift this soup from “poor man’s” level to fancy.

P. S. If you fancy, sprinkle with crispy bacon pieces before serving. Where was the 🥓 when I was forced to eat this soup?😂

Print Recipe

How to Make Croatian Roux Soup

Quick and easy to make, this Croatian frugal roux soup is packed with flavor! 

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Bosnian, Croatian

Servings: 4

Author: Jas

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• Cayenne pepper to taste optional
• 4 cups water can be substituted with vegetable stock but omit next ingredient!
• 3 teaspoons Vegeta* substitute with 2 vegetable bouillon cubes
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
• Salt and pepper to taste
• To serve: croutons and sour cream optional

DIRECTIONS:

• Heat the oil in a medium-size pot. Stir in the flour. With a wooden spoon or a whisk, continue to stir flour over low heat until flour is golden in color. Do not burn it!
• Mix in paprika, cayenne pepper, and caraway seeds, if using. Slowly add water or broth continuing to stir as it thickens.
• Season the soup with Vegeta or bouillon if you’re cooking with water. Simmer the soup, stirring frequently, for 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve soup in bowls topped with croutons and sour cream if you’d like. They lift this soup from “poor man’s” level to fancy.

RECIPE NOTES:

*Vegeta – a Croatian condiment (much like bouillon in powder form) which is a mixture of spices and various dry vegetables. We like to season everything with Vegeta and use it instead of salt.

Tried this recipe?Snap a photo and mention @all_thats_jas or tag #allthatsjas on Instagram for a chance to be featured!

I have put together an ebook with my favorite foods from the Balkan region, jut like this soup. You can download my free excerpt or order the full version so you can whip up those exclusive recipes too. 50 absolutely delicious dishes that warm the heart and soul!

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2014 and has been completely revamped and updated.

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Featured on: Hello Little Home.

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Jas

publisher and creative director at All that's Jas

Jas is a cheesecake addict and the author of Balkan Comfort Food cookbook available on Amazon. You can download a free excerpt of the book when you subscribe to All that's Jas newsletter updates or purchase the full version below. To learn more about Jas visit her About page.

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