Ingredients
- 2 14.5 oz cans of chick peas (garbanzo beans) drained - or 1.5 cups dried chick peas soaked over night
- 1/2 pound lamb or beef stew meat, chopped in 1/2 cubes (optional)
- 2 chicken thighs, skin removed and chopped in 1/2 inch pieces (optional)
- 2 large onions peeled and chopped
- 3/4 cup dry brown lentils
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp paprika
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chicken, beef or vegetable stock concentrate (dry or from jar)
- 12 cups water
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (quite a bit of salt is required)
- 1/2 cup rice, dry (optional)
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 1 Tbsp celery, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 14.5 oz cans of diced tomatoes (or 1 pound peeled and chopped fresh tomatoes plus 2 tsp tomato paste)
- 1 heaping Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 lemons
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Harira Soup
Time: 15 minutes prep, 120 minutes cook
Servings: 10
Directions
- In a large pot, combine the drained chick peas, lamb, chicken, onions, lentils, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, concentrated stock, and 12 cups of water. Add salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer gently for about 1.5 hours.
- Remove lid and add the rice, cilantro, parsley, celery, tomatoes and cook for another 20 minutes.
- Mix the tablespoon of flour with a half cup of water until smooth. (I usually put both in a jar with a lid and shake.) Then add this to the soup, stirring gently. Let cook for an additional five minute.
- Serve in bowls with the lemon cut in wedges and served on the side.
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Summary
This is the traditional soup served at sunset to break the daily fast observed during the 30 days of Ramadan. Recipes vary from family to family throughout Morocco and the rest of North Africa. I'm particularly fond of this version. If you have not had this before, you MUST try it. It is truly delicious!
Reviews
January 26, 2009
I've made this recipe with and without meat, and it is delicious both ways. The meat adds a nice extra dimension, but if you are vegetarian you should definitely try it using vegetable stock and without the meat.I've cooked/tasted this recipe!
January 26, 2009
I really like the way this soup thickens with the lentils and the added flour at the end. It's like a thick split pea soup, with a wonderful flavor explosion from the added spices!I've cooked/tasted this recipe!
February 1, 2009
This recipe sounds delicious. I can't wait to prepare it. I've become a 'savcry' @ breakfast kind of person?! Oatmeal has lost its' appeal since I'm SO lactose intolerant & don't care for soy milks...I just need some lentils & I'll cook it & report back...:-)
Comments
November 18, 2011I absolutely love harira. And there are so many versions of it. This is the recipe that I made recently: http://inthekitchenwitheva-eva.blogspot.com/2011/10/harira-for-me-nothing-is-more.html I used beef the last time I made it. Amazing with either lamb or beef!
February 3, 2009I just love soups and this looks great. Can't wait to give it a try:)
