Harira, a comforting and flavorful Moroccan soup, is a staple in many households during the holy month of Ramadan and beyond. This hearty and nourishing dish, often served as a starter or main course, is a delightful symphony of savory flavors and aromatic spices. It's characterized by its rich tomato-based broth, the succulent tenderness of beef or lamb, and the hearty addition of chickpeas. As you embark on your culinary journey to create the perfect harira, this article will guide you through selecting the finest ingredients, mastering the art of preparation, and discovering the secrets to achieving that authentic Moroccan taste.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
BEST HARIRA (MOROCCAN CHICKPEA & LENTIL SOUP)
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a pot over medium high heat and brown the beef. Transfer the beef to a plate and set aside. (Leave the browned bits in the pot, those are going to give our harira tremendous flavor.)
- Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent and they turn golden, 6-8 minutes. Add the celery, garlic and ginger and cook for another two minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, spices preserved lemon and harissa (if using) and let the mixture simmer for a couple of minutes.
- Return the beef to the pot with the chickpeas and lentils. Add the broth, bring to a boil, cover and simmer over low heat for one hour. Add the rice, cover and continue to simmer for another 30 minutes.
- Stir in the olives, cilantro and parsley and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste and more harissa if you prefer it spicier.
- Garnish with some chopped fresh cilantro and celery leaves. If you like, serve the harira with lemon wedges to squirt in some lemon juice. Harira is traditionally served with a side serving of dried dates.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 449 kcal, Carbohydrate 47 g, Protein 32 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 53 mg, Sodium 1304 mg, Fiber 15 g, Sugar 9 g, ServingSize 1 serving
HARIRA (BEEF AND CHICKPEA SOUP)
A wonderful soup from Morocco that is rich enough to serve as both a soup and a stew. It is made either with Saffron or Tumeric. I broke down and splurged on the Saffron. It cost about $16.00 for a small jar. But guess what, you don't use very much at all. It is not as expensive as you thing, since you only use a couple of strands per recipe. So, live a little.
Provided by threeovens
Categories Stew
Time 1h40m
Yield 8 portions, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Brown beef in butter in a large, heavy saucepan. Add carrots, celery, onion, cinnamon, saffron or tumeric and cook until tender.
- Add broth and barley, cover and simmer over low heat 1 1/4 hours.
- Add chickpeas, tomatoes,parsley, oregano and lemon juice; cook 15 minutes or longer, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 523.8, Fat 44.2, SaturatedFat 18.7, Cholesterol 63.8, Sodium 458.8, Carbohydrate 22.5, Fiber 5.1, Sugar 2.6, Protein 9.7
HARIRA (CHICKPEA, LAMB AND CORIANDER SOUP)
This is a wonderfully spiced and filling soup. Mmmmm, wish we had a winter around here... This is North African comfort food at it's best. Serve with toasted pita or Morrocan flat bread drizzled with a bit of good quality olive oil. If you're not crazy about cloves, like my DH, you can reduce to 1/4 tsp and adjust from there.
Provided by Jostlori
Categories Stew
Time 2h40m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or stockpot. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened.
- Add the meat in batches, and cook over high heat until the meat is browned on all sides. Return all the meat to the pan.
- Add the spices and bay leaf to the pan and cook until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add the stock to the pan, stir well and bring to a boil.
- Add the chickpeas, tomato and chopped coriander to the pan. Stir, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours, or until the meat is tender. Stir occasionally. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve garnished with coriander leaves and small black olives.
CHICKPEA HARIRA
Steps:
- Throughly rinse the chickpeas and place them in the slow cooker insert along with the water, tomatoes, celery leaves, and onion. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the chickpeas are tender.
- In an electric coffee mill or a mortar and pestle, grind the cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, cumin, saffron, and red pepper flakes to a powder. Add the ground turmeric.
- Add the spices to the soup 1 to 2 hours before serving. (If you plan to be gone all day, you can add all the ingredients at the start. However, the spices will be just a bit more pungent if you hold off adding them until the chickpeas have cooked for a while.)
- Just before serving, stir in the olive oil, parsley, cilantro, and lemon juice. Add salt to taste and serve, topping each serving with a dollop of yogurt.
- Suggested Beverage
- Consumption of alcohol is generally not encouraged by Muslim religious practices, so it's probably best to leave this one to your imagination or taste.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Look for fresh, organic vegetables and high-quality beef and chickpeas.
- Soak the chickpeas overnight before cooking to reduce cooking time. If you don't have time to soak them overnight, you can quick-soak them by boiling them for 1 minute, then removing them from the heat and letting them soak for 1 hour.
- Brown the beef before adding it to the soup. This will help to develop its flavor and add depth to the soup.
- Add the vegetables to the soup in stages, starting with the hardest vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes. This will ensure that all of the vegetables are cooked evenly.
- Season the soup to taste with salt, pepper, and other spices. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice or a dollop of yogurt for extra flavor.
- Serve the soup hot, garnished with fresh herbs, such as cilantro or parsley.
Conclusion:
Harira is a delicious and nutritious soup that is perfect for a cold winter day. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its combination of beef, chickpeas, vegetables, and spices, harira is a hearty and flavorful soup that is sure to please everyone at your table.
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