Vegetarian Harira Soup

Name: VEGETARIAN HARIRA SOUP |MOROCCAN VEGETABLE SOUP
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 medium onion diced; 2-3 cloves garlic minced or chopped; 1 medium carrot cut into cubes; 1 stalk celery (sliced); ½ cup lentils; 1 cup white chickpeas (cooked); ¼ cup vermicelli or rice; 1 cup fresh tomato puree (thick); 1 tsp salt; 4 cups water or stock; ¼ cup coriander (finely chopped); ¼ cup parsley (finely chopped); 1-2 tbsp lemon juice; 1/4 tsp saffron; 1 tsp coriander powder; 1 tsp cumin powder; 1 tsp smoked paprika powder; ½ tsp ginger powder; ½ tsp ground pepper; ½ tsp cinnamon powder; ¼ tsp turmeric powder; ¼ tsp cayenne powder

November 7, 2016mayurisjikoni

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Recipe: Vegetarian Harira Soup

Vegetarian Harira Soup is a classic Moroccan Soup made withe lentils, chickpeas, fresh herbs and warming spices. This hearty, healthy soup is a meal on its own. Comforting during the cold season, it is easy to put this together.Serve it on its own or with some pita bread. We prefer to have it on its own as it is very filling. It originates from the North African Maghreb Cuisine.

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After all the festivities… Navratri followed by Diwali, it is time to avoid all the sweet stuff, the fried goodies and get back to a normal, healthy diet. After the festivities and over indulgence ( I must admit I had quite a bit of chips with yogurt dip and fried wedges along with all the delicious sweets) our group decided on soups as the theme. I love soups, not so much the ready made ones but the home made ones. If we are having it as a meal, I prefer them hearty.

Harira Soup | Moroccan Vegetable Soup

Moroccan soups are usually made with meat and veggies. They are served during the month of Ramadan to break the fast. The rest of the year they are served as a starter or as a light meal. But Harira Soup is a bit different. It is mostly made with vegetables, lentils, chickpeas and some add vermicelli or rice. I opted for vermicelli. Some may add a small amount of meat. What makes it different from the other hearty vegetable soups is the mixture of the warming spices and the addition of a generous amount of fresh herbs. It is easy to make spice blend or mixture at home.

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Ingredients Required For Vegetarian Harira Soup

Lentils

Commonly known as masoor dal in India. Can use the brown, green or the split orange one. I have used whole brown lentils. I prefer to soak the lentils for 20-30 minutes. This allows them to cook fast and well in the soup. If you like soups with lentils check out my Moong Dal Shorba where I use yellow split moong dal.

Chickpeas

The white variety known as kabuli chana. Use canned or boiled chickpeas. If you are going to boil the chickpeas at home then soak them in warm water overnight or for 6-8 hours. Drain out the water. Wash the chickpeas. Put them in the pressure cooker with enough water and salt. Boil for 3 whistles. If you use the Instant Pot then set the pressure setting at normal low.

Onion

Use either red, white or yellow. Peel and chop the onion finely.

Garlic

Peel and mince or chop finely.

Carrot

Peel and cut it into small cubes.

Celery

Add finely chopped celery, one stalk is enough.

Olive Oil

Can use olive oil or any oil of your choice.

Pureed Tomato

Can puree fresh tomatoes (about 4-6 depending on the size) with little water. Or can cook the tomatoes in little water and make the puree. Can use canned tomato puree. Use ready made passata if you want to.

Cilantro

I cut the cilantro with the stalks. The stalks are very flavourful. Best to cut them as finely as posssible.

Parsley

I have used flat parsley.

Stock| Water

I prefer to use water for this soup recipe as I want the flavours of the spices and herbs to come through. Usually I use the water I have rinsed the blender jug with after pureeing the tomatoes.

Salt

Add according to your taste.

Spice Mixture

For the spice mixture you need cumin, ginger, cinnamon, smoked paprika, turmeric, cayenne, pepper powders. Cayenne is the normal red chilli powder. If you have harissa powder or sauce then use that instead of cayenne powder.

Saffron

Optional ingredient. Add a bit for flavour. I love the flavour of saffron so am always looking out for an opportunity to use it.

Vermicelli |Rice

Use wheat or rice ones. If you get millet vermicelli, you can use that. I have used semolina vermicelli. Don’t use semolina vermicelli if you want the soup to be gluten free. Best to use the rice one. You can replace the vermicelli with rice.

Lemon| Lemon Juice

Serve the soup with a slice of lemon. Or you can add the lemon juice before serving.

Watch How To Make Vegetarian Harira Soup