Harira - Chickpea and Lentil Soup

Deantini's Note:

I am posting it here for safe keeping and will be making before long. It looks absolutely delicious. It is a traditional Ramadan Soup. UPDATE - I have now made the soup and love it; I made it with red lentils which worked fine.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• ½ bunch cilantro , fresh
• ½ bunch parsley , fresh
• 4 cups chicken broth
• ½ cup green lentil (or brown)
• 0.5 (19 ounce) can chickpeas , drained and rinsed
• 1 (19 ounce) can tomatoes , drained and chopped
• 1 onion , chopped
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Garnish

• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 lemon , thinly sliced
• 6 pitted dates , halved (optional)

Directions:

1. Chop 2 tbsp each of cilantro and parsley, set aside.
2. Tie together the remainder of the parsley and cilantro bunches and place in large sauce pan. Add chicken stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minute Discard herb bundle.
3. Add lentils, cover and simmer for 15 minute.
4. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, tumeric, and pepper, cover and simmer for 30 minute.
5. Remove 3 cups of soup and blend with hand blender or food processor.
6. Return to pot and heat through. Stir in lemon juice, oil and reserved herbs.
7. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with cinnamon and top of lemon slices and dates.

Reviews

[Jamilah's Kitchen]

I like this version. I threw in some carrots for DS and a few other veggies I had to use up. I didn't blend just because we like the broth in this dish. THank You Made for ZWT 7.

[duonyte]

A solid hit at home, not quite a homerun with all, but one I can trot out again. Loved cooking the herbs with the broth - added such nice flavor to it. I did not have fresh parsley, threw in a bunch of dried, and then just strained it all. I used yellow lentils, and it looked so pretty with the red and yellow - I may not puree it at all next time. Used a bit less cinnamon, as I was not sure just how that would go over and it probably would have been ok as written. I love lentils, and this is yet another lovely way of using them.

[I'mPat]

I made this for the DM and myself for lunch with the idea of blending the left overs well we were enjoying it so much we polished of the lot and were chockas to say the least but very happily so. I just gave it a quick stab with the stick blender to smooth out some of the ingredients but left it mainly chunky and all the flavours justed played on one another and every mouthful was a pleasure to the senses, thank you Deantini, made for ZAAR Stars.