Pick over and rinse 1 water glass (about 200 ml / 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp) of rice. In a soup pot, cook 3 grated tomatoes with 1 teaspoon of tomato paste (domates salçası) and half a tea glass (about 50 ml / 3 tbsp + 1 tsp) of vegetable oil. Add 2.5 water glasses (about 500 ml / 2 cups + 2 tbsp) of water, and once it comes to a boil, add the rice and sprinkle in 1 dessert spoon (about 2 tsp) of salt. Once the rice is cooked, chop in 1 handful of parsley and squeeze in half a lemon. Bring to one final boil, then remove from heat.

About This Recipe

Until the mid-1500s, tomatoes were believed to be poisonous and were not consumed. When they were finally found to be safe years later, they were only eaten boiled or fried. In 1700, a Florentine chef chopped one raw into a salad — and that is when the raw consumption of tomatoes began. Tomatoes are very low in calories, and thanks to their filling effect, they are a staple of many diets. There are just 19 calories in 100 g (about 3.5 oz) of tomatoes. In 1893, a U.S. court ruling classified the tomato as a vegetable — up until that point it had been known as a fruit, which, truth be told, it still is. Scientists have proven that tomatoes contain more genes than humans. Centuries ago, the first wild yellow-variety tomato was discovered in Bolivia and Peru — likely the very reason Italians called the tomato "golden apple" for a long time. Research conducted by experts has shown that tomatoes are far more beneficial for our eyes than carrots. They protect the skin and slow aging, lower bad cholesterol, strengthen our sense of taste, help relieve rheumatic pain, and boost the immune system thanks to their active compounds. Their antioxidant content — including vitamins A, C, and E — helps reduce the risk of cancer. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try massaging your face with sliced tomatoes for about 10 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.

It is widely accepted that the spread of the tomato's name in Turkey was influenced less by Italians and more by the French — specifically French Levantine families, Turkish students studying in France at the time, and French teachers living in Turkey. This is because while Italians called it "pomodoro" (plural "pomodori"), the French called it "tomate" (plural "tomates").

Yogurt Rice Soup is something nearly all of us love. Today we decided to make a change, and we've prepared our Tomato Rice Soup recipe just for you. Bon appétit!