Moroccan
Harira
Moroccan tomato soup with lamb, chickpeas, lentils, celery, herbs, and fine noodles.
8 servings · 35 minutes prep · 120 minutes cook
Ingredients
Soup
- 3/4 cup dried chickpeas, soaked for 8 hours, drained, and peeled if desired
- 12 ounces boneless lamb shoulder, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks with leaves, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, divided
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and puréed
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 9 cups water, divided
- 1/2 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
- 1/3 cup fine vermicelli, broken into 1-inch lengths
Tedouira
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Directions
Build and Simmer the Soup
- Heat the olive oil in a heavy soup pot over medium-high. Brown the lamb for 5 minutes. Add the onion, celery, parsley, half the cilantro, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, and salt; cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the chickpeas and 6 cups water. Bring to a boil, skim, then cover partially and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes, until the chickpeas and lamb are more than halfway tender.
- Add the tomato purée, tomato paste, lentils, and remaining water. Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chickpeas, lamb, and lentils are tender. Add the vermicelli and cook for 5 minutes.
Thicken, Season, and Serve
- Whisk the flour and 3/4 cup water until smooth with no visible flour lumps, then strain. While the soup simmers, pour in the tedouira in a thin stream, stirring continuously. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until the broth becomes silky and lightly coats a spoon rather than turning pasty.
- Stir in the remaining cilantro and lemon juice. Simmer for 2 minutes, then correct the salt and consistency with hot water if needed.
