Freekeh & Vegetable Shorba

Shorba is the Arabic word for soup of any kind. Although traditionally, freekeh soup is known as Arabic chicken soup, my freekeh shorba is made with vegetables and za’atar, the earthy condiment made from the dried wild herb of the oregano family, dried sumac and sesame seeds. Wild za’atar, with its soft, green leaves, has become a protected species in Israel, due to over foraging. Arabic cooks often use water for the soup broth, which gives a smoky and nutty flavour to the soup from the fre