• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
OMGfood logo
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Blogger Resources
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Soups & Stews » Trahanosoupa (Trahana Soup with Feta)

    Trahanosoupa (Trahana Soup with Feta)

    Published: Feb 9, 2016 · Last updated: Jan 7, 2018 by Marissa · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    405 shares
    • 111
    Jump to Recipe

    Closeup of soup in a bowl with bread and milk in the background.

    Happy Tuesday!

    Man, what a year so far! If you missed my last post and are wondering where the eff I've been, I had a rough start to the new year because I got laid off from my full-time job and was trying to figure things out during that transition. During that time, I also did some blog planning and other fun stuff behind the scenes which got me back into a routine and now I'm here! And let me say, it feels so good.

    I'll share more about the fun stuff I'm working on later, but for now, let's talk about food! It's been too long.

    Today, I'm sharing a recipe for a soup I loved, and I mean loved, growing up. It's called trahanosoupa (trah-ha-NOH-soo-pah), which simply means trahana soup (trah-ha-NAH), though honestly, I've always just called it trahana. Now, you may be asking, "What's trahana?"

    A plate of sliced feta, jug of milk, and package of trahana grains on a tabletop.

    Trahana is a type of ancient wheat product or "pasta" that's eaten in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. There are two types: sweet trahana and sour trahana. Both are made with either semolina, cracked wheat, or flour. The difference between the two is pretty simple:

    • Sweet trahana is made with milk (usually sheeps' or goats' milk)
    • Sour trahana is made with soured milk and/or yogurt

    Traditionally, trahana was made as a way to preserve milk for the cold winter months. It was made by combining the dairy with the wheat and dried in the sun over several days. This would normally be done in August as that's the hottest summer month. Once dried, it would be broken into tiny granules and could be stored for months.

    Closeup of trahana grains in a small bowl.

    Trahana is normally eaten in soups or as a porridge. It thickens as it cooks; it kind of reminds me of cream of wheat, but with a bit more texture.

    Today's recipe is made with sour trahana. My mother always made the soup simply with some browned butter, water, feta, and milk. She said it was known to some as the "poor villager's meal" because of the simple ingredients used. There are variants that call for tomatoes and other ingredients as well! One of these days, I will experiment with other recipes, but for now, I'll resort to the warm, comforting bowl of creamy deliciousness that would always hit the spot on a cold day. Perfect for the winter. The flavor is delightfully savory and sour and a little hard to describe, which can only mean one thing: this soup has some umami going on!

    Closeup of crumbled feta in a small bowl. A close up of browned butter in a saucepan.

    The sweet variant of trahana could be used, though the end result will differ. For example, my mom always used sour trahana growing up, though she told me recently she tried it with sweet trahana for kicks. She said it took much longer to cook and because the sweet variant isn't made with soured milk or yogurt, the soup lacked that sour/umami tang, which is what really makes this soup shine to begin with!

    There are different brands of trahana, but the one I always turn to is Vlaha; mainly because it's what my mom recommends as it "cooks so well." If you happen to have any Greek shops near you, you will certainly find trahana! If not, Amazon to the rescue! You can find both sour trahana there as well as sweet trahana. Though be warned, the price on Amazon for trahana is rather steep at times. I pay about four dollars for a package at my local store.

    Trahana is super easy to make and can be from stove to table in a half hour or less. Serve with some crusty bread and you've got yourself a delicious, body-warming meal.

    Yia sas!

    Closeup of soup in a bowl.

    Trahana with Feta

    Trahanosoupa (Trahana Soup with Feta)

    4.40 from 23 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Marissa

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 cup sour trahana
    • 6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
    • ⅓ cup milk, I use whole milk
    • salt to taste, optional

    Instructions

    • Melt butter in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat until lightly browned (be sure to keep a close eye on it, so it doesn't burn).
    • Stir in the water, trahana, and a pinch of salt.
    • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for fifteen minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the trahana from sticking to the bottom. The trahana will absorb a lot of the water and will be soft. (See notes)
    • Add the milk and feta and cook for an additional five minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Remove from heat and let rest for five minutes.
    • Taste and add more salt if necessary. (See notes)
    • Serve with crusty bread and enjoy!

    Notes

    1. If you can feel the trahana sticking to the bottom while it's cooking, carefully scrape the bottom using a wooden or metal spoon.
    2. Depending on the feta you use, you may not need much salt, if any. Taste and adjust as necessary.
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @omgfoodblog and hashtag it #omgfoodblog!

     

    Disclaimer: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you make a purchase through them. By purchasing through these links, you are helping support this site! I only recommend items I personally own and love.

    Trahana with Feta - A tasty and comforting soup that's a favorite in many homes around Greece. | omgfood.com

    YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    • Maroulosalata (Greek Lettuce Salad)Maroulosalata (Greek Lettuce Salad)
    • Loaded Baked Potato and Cauliflower SoupLoaded Baked Potato and Cauliflower Soup
    • Hoirino me Selino Avgolemono (Pork and Celery Stew with Egg-Lemon Sauce)Hoirino me Selino Avgolemono (Pork and Celery Stew with Egg-Lemon Sauce)
    • Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant Dip)
    • Grilled Zucchini and Tinkerbell Pepper Wraps with TzatzikiGrilled Zucchini and Tinkerbell Pepper Wraps with Tzatziki
    • Garides Souvlakia (Skewered Shrimp)Garides Souvlakia (Skewered Shrimp)
    • Lamb Burgers With Kasseri CheeseLamb Burgers With Kasseri Cheese
    • Roasted Asparagus with FetaRoasted Asparagus with Feta
    « I Had A Job And Now I Don't
    Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes »
    Never miss a recipe. Sign up for my weekly email and get new updates straight to your inbox. | omgfood.com

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marianna DeJesus says

      February 12, 2016 at 12:41 pm

      5 stars
      Kiki who owns House of Pizza in Millinocket Maine (your Father knows the place) made this for me years ago. I love it so much that I wanted to eat the whole pot ... You are so blessed to have two parents who are cook the way that they do ... I enjoyed every meal that I have ever eaten with all of you ... 🙂

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMG FOOD says

        February 12, 2016 at 2:48 pm

        Every time I make it, I'm always sad there doesn't seem to be enough. 🙂 I feel very fortunate I got to learn so much from them over the years (and still learning, too). I also always enjoyed the feasts we had when you came to visit!

        Reply
        • Shayalam Ghimire says

          March 14, 2018 at 4:44 am

          5 stars
          hey I like trahana as well . I am not from a greek decent but while I was in Cyprus for my Hotel Mnanagement studies I came across lots of Greek and Cypriot foods and no wonder I loved it too.
          I am Shayal from Nepal and I am a chef/Instructor in a Hospitatlity training school called Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management.
          My passion for food is something which I take from my different experiences food (from India,Australia, Cyprus,Greece and of course Continentel) and I give my own take with respect to its originality.
          I have recently started following your posts especially those with greek recipes.

          Reply
    2. Ange @ Little Kitchen Blue says

      February 12, 2016 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      I love learning about new ingredients! I've never heard of trahana before but we have a great deli near by that sells all kinds of things we cant get in the supermarket. I will look out for some

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMG FOOD says

        February 12, 2016 at 6:44 pm

        I hope you find it, Ange! It's so good!

        Reply
    3. Debi at Life Currents says

      February 12, 2016 at 6:32 pm

      This looks delicious! I've never heard of trahana before. I'll have to seek this out. I'd guess that the international market near me might carry this.

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMG FOOD says

        February 13, 2016 at 10:54 am

        Thanks, Debi. I hope they have it! It's such a great comfort food.

        Reply
    4. Taylor Thurston says

      February 17, 2016 at 8:01 pm

      Hmm... I LOOOVE feta. I've never tried trahana before, but there is a first time for everything, right? Looks amazing. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMG FOOD says

        February 19, 2016 at 11:11 am

        Indeed, there is a first time for everything! I hope you try it and when you do, let me know how you liked it. Thanks, Taylor! <3

        Reply
    5. Rachel says

      April 10, 2017 at 7:33 pm

      Can this be made in advance and reheated prior to serving? I don't get home from work until after supper but I prepare it in the morning for my husband to heat and serve....

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        April 11, 2017 at 10:12 am

        Hi Rachel! Yes, absolutely. You can reheat it over the stove or in the microwave. Let me know how it turns out!

        Reply
    6. Penny Peklivanas says

      November 28, 2017 at 12:17 pm

      Well this was fab!!
      I made Trahana that my Yiayia would be proud of!
      Thank you x

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        December 03, 2017 at 9:57 pm

        So glad it came out good, Penny! <3

        Reply
    7. Spiro says

      January 17, 2018 at 9:51 am

      Perfect! Just like mama uses to make!

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        February 08, 2018 at 8:11 pm

        Thanks, Spiro!

        Reply
    8. Maria says

      February 13, 2018 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      The τραχανόσουπα was amazing! Just made it for lunch. I had some trahana from Crete sent to me by some sisters at a monastery in Rethimno that prepare it themselves. I wasn't sure how to cook it, so I did a google search and found your site. I'll tell you, it was a hit in our house! I printed the recipe to use again!

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        February 21, 2018 at 9:09 pm

        So glad to hear it, Maria! I'll bet it was especially amazing having it with the trahana you got your hands on!

        Reply
    9. Chocolate Lady says

      March 23, 2018 at 4:08 am

      My family and I went to Greece over the holidays and I brought back several packages of trajana along with other grains and beans I wasn't familiar with. Never having tried it, I can't wait to try your recipe! The beauty is in its simplicity!

      Reply
    10. Dave Allen says

      October 14, 2019 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      It warms your bones on a cold day
      When serving Squirt some fresh lemon 🍋 a grind of salt and pepper hhhmmmmm cozy deliciousness in every spoonful

      Reply
    11. Juliana says

      May 27, 2020 at 10:52 pm

      oh my sweet lord when my grandmother was making me this traditional dish it meant the world to me .that taste and aroma wow ....i remember well the whole process of making it huge sheets of pastry dried and then crumbled ....delicious....second dish that i use to love was kokoretzi at Easter....thank you.How is Boston?

      Reply
    12. Mia says

      July 24, 2021 at 8:11 am

      Hi Marissa - quick question for you. I bought some trahana a few months ago and it has a relatively short expiry date (it is the end of this month..). Is this something that can actually keep for longer than the stated date? If not, I'll be expediting this recipe! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Marissa @ OMGfood says

        July 25, 2021 at 12:42 pm

        Hi Mia! I've never kept trahana too long after the expiration date to be honest. Because it's made with milk, I was a little too nervous to take that chance and didn't want to risk it! Sorry that's not the most helpful answer but I really hope you enjoy the recipe!

        Reply
    13. Crystal says

      November 12, 2022 at 3:00 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was so tasty! Insanely easy to make and such a cozy meal on a cold day. It came together super fast, and I was really pleasantly surprised by just how great the flavor was for such a simple recipe. Definitely will be making again!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    I'm Marissa, a loud Greek from Boston. My obsessions are food, dogs, video games, music, and Bob's Burgers. Read More →

    Featured image: Close up of eggplant and rice in a bowl with a pan of casserole in the background.

    One Pot Greek Eggplant and Rice

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Marissa
    • Privacy Policy
    • FAQ

    Newsletter

    • Sign up for emails and updates!

    Get in Touch

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 OMGfood