Recipe for Harira Soup in Morocco

Harira soup is a typical Moroccan soup and should not be missed when traveling to Morocco. You can enjoy a bowl of soup in a small restaurant, a luxury riad/hotel, or while visiting a local friend.

To prepare harira soup, the following ingredients are required:

• 1 onion;
• 1 small bunch of chopped parsley
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 100 g dry chickpeas (soaked overnight in water and stripped of their skin) or canned chickpeas
• 100 g lentils
• Spices (1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper, salt)
• 50 g flour + water
• 150 g meat of your choice cut into small cubes
• 2 or 3 stalks of celery: chopped
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp butter (optional)
• 2 L water
• 700 g tomato sauce
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• Rice vermicelli
• Juice of half a lemon (optional)

Preparation:
In a pan, heat the olive oil, onions, meat, parsley and celery. Add the lentils, chickpeas or canned chickpeas, tomato sauce and paste, butter, and spices (turmeric, pepper, ginger, salt, and a pinch of cinnamon.)
Cover all with 2 liters of water and cook until the chickpeas are soft.
Dissolve the flour in water. Once the chickpeas and lentils are cooked, continue heating the pan and add the rice vermicelli or canned chickpeas and leave it cooking for a few minutes. Add the sauce gradually by continuously stirring to prevent the flour from sticking (the more you add the thicker the harira becomes).
Cook for another 2-3 minutes over medium heat and stir continually.
At the end of cooking, add the choppedfresh coriander and lemon juice to taste.
Serve hot.

Other Traditional Moroccan Cuisine Recipes

If you’re interested in Moroccan Cuisine, then you’ll have to learn how to cook the authentic Moroccan couscous and the Moroccan tagine. There are so many traditional Moroccan dishes to discover. One of the best ways to experience Moroccan cuisine is to take a guided cooking class during your visit to Morocco. Whether you’re exploring Moroccan cuisine at local restaurants or in a cooking class, you won’t be disappointed in the taste of Moroccan food!