Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 3–4
Warm, tangy, and loaded with umami, Gundruk Soup is a beloved traditional dish from Nepal, made with fermented leafy greens and local spices. Often enjoyed in rural mountain communities, this soup is earthy, comforting, and packed with gut-friendly benefits thanks to its naturally fermented base. A true taste of the hills, Gundruk Soup is both sustainable and soulful—crafted from preserved seasonal greens foraged or cultivated by hand.
📜 What Is Gundruk?
“Preserved by the sun, perfected by time.”
Gundruk is made by fermenting mustard greens, radish leaves, or cauliflower greens. The leaves are wilted, tightly packed, and left to ferment for several days before being sun-dried. The result is a deeply flavorful preserved green with tangy depth, used in soups, curries, or eaten as a side.
It’s a sustainable preservation method developed over centuries in the Himalayas—essential in regions with limited access to fresh vegetables during winter.
Ingredients for Gundruk Soup
☑️ 1 cup gundruk (dried fermented greens), rinsed and soaked
☑️ 1 small onion, chopped
☑️ 2 cloves garlic, minced
☑️ 1 small tomato, chopped
☑️ 1 green chili, sliced (optional)
☑️ 1 tsp turmeric
☑️ 1 tsp cumin seeds
☑️ 1 tbsp mustard oil or ghee
☑️ 3 cups water or vegetable broth
☑️ Salt to taste
👩🍳 How to Make Gundruk Soup
🔥 Step 1: Sauté the Base
1️⃣ Heat mustard oil in a pot. Add cumin seeds, then garlic, onion, and chili.
2️⃣ Cook until golden and fragrant. Add turmeric and chopped tomato. Cook until softened.
🥣 Step 2: Add Gundruk and Simmer
1️⃣ Add soaked gundruk and stir well.
2️⃣ Pour in water or broth and bring to a boil.
3️⃣ Reduce heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes. Season to taste.
🍲 Step 3: Serve and Enjoy
1️⃣ Ladle hot into bowls. Serve with steamed rice or millet roti for a true Nepali experience.
💖 Why You’ll Love Gundruk Soup
☑️ Rich in probiotics and antioxidants
☑️ Naturally vegan and gluten-free
☑️ Deep, tangy umami from Himalayan fermentation
☑️ A sustainable and deeply rooted cultural dish
“In every sip of Gundruk Soup, there’s a story of survival, season, and soil.”
🌍 Craving More Extreme Culinary Adventures? If you’re fascinated by rare and ancient food traditions, explore our guide to Truffle Honey Glazed Duck Breast You Need to Try! with Indigenous Roots for the Adventurous Food Lover.
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