Soup · Main Course · Eastern European ·

Creamy Bosnian Begova Čorba with Okra and Veal

Name: Creamy Bosnian Begova Čorba with Okra and Veal
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 180 min
Total time: 240 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 1 kg veal shanks, cubed; 2 liters water; 1 bay leaf; 2 cloves garlic, peeled; 1 small onion, quartered; 200 g okra, fresh, trimmed, and halved; 2 carrots, diced; 2 celery stalks, diced; 1 potato, peeled and cubed; 2 tbsp butter; 1 cup sour cream; 2 tbsp flour; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; 1 tbsp lemon juice; Fresh parsley, chopped; Lemon wedges

Indulge in the rich and creamy flavors of this traditional Bosnian soup, featuring tender veal and the unique taste of okra.

4.4(664 reviews)

·By Troy·October 18, 2025

Creamy Bosnian Begova Čorba with Okra and Veal — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

1 h

Cook

3 h

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Broth

For the Soup

For the Seasoning

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 501 kcal
Protein: 55.9 g
Carbs: 15.8 g
Fat: 28.1 g
Fiber: 2.8 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3004 kcal
Protein: 335.3 g
Carbs: 94.7 g
Fat: 168.7 g
Fiber: 17 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 kg veal shanks cubed	2000	320	0	100	0
2 liters water	0	0	0	0	0
1 bay leaf	0	0	0	0	0
2 cloves garlic peeled	9	0.4	2	0	0.1
1 small onion quartered	28	0.8	6.5	0.1	1.3
200 g okra fresh, trimmed, and halved	66	4	14	0.8	7.6
2 carrots diced	50	1.2	12	0.3	3.5
2 celery stalks diced	10	0.5	2	0.1	1
1 potato peeled and cubed	130	3.5	30	0.2	3
2 tbsp butter	204	0.2	0	23	0
1 cup sour cream	445	4	9	44	0
2 tbsp flour	57	1.5	12	0.2	0.4
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Black pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 tbsp lemon juice	4	0.1	1	0	0
Fresh parsley chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1
Lemon wedges	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Meat

1
Rinse and Dry
Rinse the veal cubes and pat them dry with paper towels.
2
Season Meat
Season lightly with salt and let them rest for 10 minutes.
3
Rest
Set aside until ready to use.

Preparing the Vegetables

1
Trim Okra
Trim the okra and halve each pod.
Tip: Thoroughly trim the okra to prevent any bitterness in the soup.
2
Dice Vegetables
Dice the carrots, celery, and potato into even-sized pieces for uniform cooking.
3
Prep Garnish
Set aside the chopped parsley and lemon wedges for garnishing.
Tip: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for optimal flavor.

How to Make Creamy Bosnian Begova Čorba with Okra and Veal

Total time: 4 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Making the Broth
In a large pot, combine the veal, water, bay leaf, garlic, and onion. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for about 2 hours until the veal is tender.
2
Preparing the Soup Base
Remove the veal and strain the broth. In the same pot, melt butter and sauté carrots, celery, and okra for 5 minutes until slightly softened.
3
Finalizing the Čorba
Stir in flour and cook briefly, then gradually whisk in sour cream and lemon juice. Return veal and potato to the pot, simmer for an additional 20 minutes.