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Harira Soup Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 72 reviews

Harira Soup is a traditional Moroccan soup known for its rich and warming blend of spices, lentils, chickpeas, and fresh herbs. This hearty, aromatic soup combines sautéed onions, garlic, and a variety of spices with tomatoes, legumes, and pasta, creating a comforting meal perfect for any occasion. The recipe is customizable with additional greens or proteins and is often served with lemon wedges, yogurt, and dates for an authentic experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Base Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 stalks of celery, inner leaves, chopped small
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped

Spices and Seasonings

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4–1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
  • A tiny pinch of saffron (optional)
  • 1–2 teaspoons sea salt

Liquids and Solids

  • 6 cups broth (vegetable or chicken) or water
  • 1 28-ounce can whole or crushed tomatoes

Legumes and Pasta

  • 1/2 cup red lentils, dry
  • 1/2 cup brown or green lentils, dry
  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), cooked
  • 1/4 pound capellini pasta, broken into approximately 1-inch pieces

Additional Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons honey (if needed)
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, stems included
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley

To Serve

  • Lemon wedges
  • Yogurt (optional, for swirling)
  • Dates on the side

Instructions

  1. Sauté Onion: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and sauté the diced onion for 5 minutes until softened and translucent, providing the flavorful base for the soup.
  2. Add Celery, Garlic, and Spices: Stir in chopped celery, garlic, ground ginger, black pepper, turmeric, cumin, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Continue sautéing for another minute, allowing the spices to bloom and deepen their flavor.
  3. Add Liquids and Lentils: Pour in the broth (vegetable or chicken), canned tomatoes, cinnamon stick, saffron (if using), salt, red lentils, brown or green lentils, and half of the chopped cilantro and parsley. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover with a vented lid, and let cook gently for 30 minutes to blend the flavors and soften the lentils.
  4. Add Chickpeas and Pasta: Add the cooked chickpeas and broken capellini pasta to the pot. Continue cooking for another 5 to 10 minutes until the pasta is tender but not mushy, adjusting time depending on pasta texture preference.
  5. Finish and Season: Stir in honey and add the remaining fresh cilantro and parsley. Taste and adjust salt if necessary.
  6. Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately with lemon wedges, a swirl of yogurt if desired, and dates on the side to enhance the traditional experience.

Notes

  • If planning to store or freeze the soup, cook the pasta separately and add it when serving to prevent it from becoming mushy. Gluten-free pasta varieties especially benefit from this method.
  • Adjust the salt according to the saltiness of the broth and canned chickpeas used.
  • Variations include adding greens such as chard, kale, or spinach; substituting cooked rice for pasta; using orzo pasta instead of capellini; or adding seared lamb, beef, or chicken for a heartier meal.

Keywords: Harira, Moroccan soup, lentil soup, chickpea soup, spiced soup, traditional Moroccan recipe, healthy soup, vegetarian soup

Find it online: https://mixitwitjoe.com/harira-soup-recipe/