Harira (Moroccan Lentil Soup)

misscasablanca's Note:

Tomato soup with lentils,chickpeas, and vermicelli pasta. Perfect for those cold winter days. This soup is served everyday during the holy month of Ramadan. This is a modified recipe from my mother.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1 lb lamb or 1 lb chicken or 1 lb beef
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 3/4 cup celery
• 1 onion
• 1 red onion
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 (29 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 7 cups water
• 3/4 cup lentils (soaked in water overnight)
• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained (or dried ones soaked in water)
• 4 ounces vermicelli (cut in small pieces)
• 1 lemon

Directions:

1. Chop celery, onion, cilantro.
2. Place the lamb (bones optional, for flavoring), spices, margarine, celery, onion, and cilantro into a large pot over a low heat.
3. Stir tomatoes(without juice) into the mixture and let simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Pour tomato juice, 7 cups water, and the lentils into the pot.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. Let soup simmer, covered, for 2 hours. Stirring occasionally.
6. About 10 minutes before serving turn the heat to medium-high, place chickpeas and vermicelli into the soup, let cook about 10 minutes.
7. Serve soup with lemon wedges on the side.
8. This is optional: serve with warm slices of bread, dates and boiled eggs (cut in half and sprinkled with cumin and salt).

Reviews

[Chef #1505685]

Smells wonderful!, easy to make & tastes great! My first time ever trying Moroccan food, i was worried it'd be too spicy... seems like the flavors may increase as it sits there. I substituted scallions for red pepper, doubled the celery, used only 1/4 tsp black pepper, added a cup of carrots ... very happy with the results!

[Muggzdelight]

I tried the recipe and it was nice but I found it a bit bland so I added some cumin which seems to have done the trick but it is still not hundred persent. I still think that something is missing. The recipe was very easy to make.