Mageritsa (easter lamb soup)

Servings: 8 Intestin

Ingredients:

1 lamb's feet and tripe opt
1 Lamb's head (optional) Salt
2 Lemons (juice only)
1 sm Bunch scallions; chopped
2/3 c Chopped fresh parsley
1/2 c Chopped fresh dill
1/4 c Chopped celery leaves
6 tb Raw long-grain white rice
1/2 ts Aniseed (optional) Freshly ground pepper
3 Whole eggs

Instructions:

Note: If using the lamb's head wash it then soak it in cold water for 3 hours. Drain. Cut the head in half using a sharp knife and tie with a clean string. If using the lamb's feet and tripe prepare as follows: If tripe is not parially cooked cut open with a sharp knife and clean the inside thoroughly under running water. Put in a pan with cold salted water to cover and soak for 30 minutes then drain and wash with cold water. Cut into small pieces and put in a large soup pot with the lamb's feet. cover with cold water and simmer until tender adding salt to taste during the last minutes of cooking. Cube the tripe remove the meat of the feet from the bones and add to the mageritsa at the same time as the cut-up intestines adjusting the liquid by adding more water. Clean the intestines thoroughly by turning them inside out using a long skewer or stick (this turning will be quicker if the intestines are first cut into 2-foot lengths) then wash under cold running water until clean. Rub the intestines with salt and the juice of 1/2 lemon rinse again in cold water and drain. Braid the intestines or tie the ends together with clean string. Put in a large soup pot with the lamb's head if using and cove with cold water. Bring to a boil then lower the heat skim and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the intestines drain them and cut into 1/4 inch pieces with the scissors and set aside to add to the soup later. (Use the remaining portion of the head for another dish.) Bring the soup stock to a boil and add the scallions parsley dill and celery leaves. Cut the heart lungs and liver into small bite-sized cubes and add them to the soup and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the rice cut-up intestines aniseed salt and pepper to taste and continue simmering until the rice is tender approximately 15 minutes adding more water as needed and the brains during the last few minutes of cooking. Half an hour before serving bring the soup to a boil then remove from the heat and prepare the avgolemono: Beat the eggs for 2 minutes. Continue to beat gradually add the remaining lemon juice. Then 1 to 2 cups of the hot soup by droplets beating steadily until all has been added. Add the avgolemono to the soup. Stir over minimum heat until thickened. Serve warm but avoid boiling the soup after adding the avgolemono. A richer Mageritsa can be made by sauteing the scallions in 3 tablespoons butter or oil before adding to the soup. From: "The Food of Greece" by Vilma Liacouras Chantiles. Avenel Books New York. Typed for you by Karen Mintzias