Soop-e Seer (سوپ سیر) — Persian Garlic Soup with Egg Ribbons
Soop-e Seer is a minimalist Persian home soup, often made when someone needs comfort and strength. Long-simmered garlic turns sweet and mellow, while egg enriches the broth into a silky, restorative bowl.

Printable Recipe Card
Servings: 4 · Total: 55 min · Difficulty: easy
Ingredients (quick list)
- 120 g garlic cloves, peeled (about 2 large heads)
- 1200 ml water
- 8 g fine sea salt (about 1 1/4 tsp)
- 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 large egg
Steps (summary)
- Lightly crush the peeled garlic cloves with the side of a knife to help them release flavor without turning the soup harsh. Rin…
- Add the garlic and water to a medium pot and bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. As soon as it boils, reduce to a…
- Simmer uncovered for 35 minutes, keeping the heat low enough that the surface only trembles. Stir once or twice to prevent any…
- Add the salt and black pepper, then simmer 5 more minutes to let the seasoning dissolve and integrate. Taste the broth and conf…
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs for 20 seconds until fully blended and fluid. Lower the heat to very low, then slowly drizzle t…
- Cook for 2 minutes, stirring gently, until the egg is just set and the soup looks silky. Turn off the heat and rest the soup fo…
Cultural Background
In Persian home cooking, garlic soup is a humble restorative often prepared during colds or fatigue. Slow simmering transforms sharp garlic into a sweet, soothing broth, reflecting the tradition of simple ingredients used for comfort and care.
Equipment
💡 Tips
- For a sweeter, more medicinal-style broth, simmer the garlic for a full 50 minutes and keep the pot at a bare simmer to avoid bitterness.
- If you prefer a smoother soup, mash 1/3 of the cooked garlic cloves against the side of the pot and stir them back in for natural body.
- To keep egg ribbons fine, drizzle from a height of about 15 cm and stir steadily in one direction over very low heat.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Boiling the soup hard for the entire cook time, making the garlic taste sharp and bitter.
✅ Fix: Keep it at a gentle simmer with only small bubbles and skim foam early for a cleaner, sweeter broth.
❌ Adding egg while the soup is boiling, causing large curds and a cloudy broth.
✅ Fix: Lower to very low heat, drizzle slowly, and stir in one direction to form fine ribbons.
❌ Under-simmering the garlic so the soup tastes raw and pungent.
✅ Fix: Simmer until the cloves are very tender and the aroma is mellow; extend time by 10–15 minutes if needed.
🧊 How to Store
Cool to room temperature within 1 hour, then refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently over low heat until steaming (about 70–75°C) and stir often; avoid boiling or the egg may toughen.
📅 Make Ahead
Simmer the garlic broth (without egg) up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat gently, then whisk and stream in the eggs right before serving for the best silky texture.
🍽️ Pairs Well With
- Sangak
- barbari
- fresh herbs (sabzi khordan)
- radishes
- a squeeze of fresh lemon
Regional Variations
- Some Tehran-style home versions mash more of the cooked garlic into the broth for a thicker, more velvety body.
- In a few households, the egg is beaten with a splash of water and streamed in more slowly to create extra-fine threads.
Ingredients
- 120 ggarlic cloves, peeled (about 2 large heads)
- 1200 mlwater
- 8 gfine sea salt (about 1 1/4 tsp)
- 1 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
- 2large egg
🔄 Substitutions
- large egg→ egg white
- fine sea salt→ kosher salt
Instructions
- 1
Lightly crush the peeled garlic cloves with the side of a knife to help them release flavor without turning the soup harsh. Rinse the cloves quickly under cool water and drain well so the broth stays clean and clear.
- 2
Add the garlic and water to a medium pot and bring it to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. As soon as it boils, reduce to a low simmer and skim any foam that rises so the finished soup tastes sweet, not bitter.
- 3
Simmer uncovered for 35 minutes, keeping the heat low enough that the surface only trembles. Stir once or twice to prevent any cloves from sticking, and continue until the garlic is very tender and the broth smells mellow and rounded.
- 4
Add the salt and black pepper, then simmer 5 more minutes to let the seasoning dissolve and integrate. Taste the broth and confirm it is savory and warming, with no raw garlic bite.
- 5
In a small bowl, whisk the eggs for 20 seconds until fully blended and fluid. Lower the heat to very low, then slowly drizzle the egg into the pot while stirring in one direction to create delicate ribbons rather than clumps.
- 6
Cook for 2 minutes, stirring gently, until the egg is just set and the soup looks silky. Turn off the heat and rest the soup for 3 minutes so the garlic flavor blooms and the texture becomes cohesive before serving.
🪪 Recipe Passport
Cultural Background
In Persian home cooking, garlic soup is a humble restorative often prepared during colds or fatigue. Slow simmering transforms sharp garlic into a sweet, soothing broth, reflecting the tradition of simple ingredients used for comfort and care.
Regional Variations
Researched from multiple sources and validated by the Zaffaron editorial team. Every recipe is tested for accuracy, measurements, and cultural authenticity.
Nutrition per serving
Pairs well with
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