Moroccan Harira Soup Recipe (Vegetarian & GF)| The Mediterranean Dish (2024)

Harira is a classic Moroccan lentil and chickpea soup with fresh herbs and loads of warm spices. This satisfying vegetarian soup is even better the next day, so it is the perfect make-ahead pot to feed a little crowd. I typically serve it with lemon slices and warm pita bread.

What is harira?

Harira soup is a hearty tomato-based Moroccan soup made with legumes like lentils and chickpeas, fresh herbs, and warm spices including turmeric, cumin and cinnamon. It is typically thickened with broken vermicelli pasta or rice. This tasty lentil and chickpea soup is served in Morocco and other parts of North Africa anytime of the year, but it is especially associated with the month of Ramadan and is served most often to break the fast.

Harira, pronounced hah-ree-rah, gets its name from the Arbic word حرير"harir" which literally means silk, a fitting description of its velvety texture. I can't wait for you to try it!

Vegetarian harira

One of the things I love about this popular soup is that there are many variations of it, depending on what legumes you have on hand. I used a combination of green lentils, red lentils, and chickpeas (canned chickpeas are a great shortcut option). I took some liberties by adding things like celery and carrots (the carrots are a nice idea because they add a subtle sweetness). And in place of vermicelli pasta, I used long grain rice (or basmati rice) which makes this recipe gluten free.

Harira soup is not always vegetarian, many recipes incorporate small chunks of boneless lamb. I might try that option sometime, but like my black eyed peas recipe, red lentil soup, and many other bean dishes we eat on the Mediterranean diet, this is another dinner that is hearty and satisfying without the addition of meat.

This harira recipe is even better the next day when the flavors have had time to meld. It will get pretty thick as it sits in the fridge, but you can just add a little bit of liquid as your warm up your leftover harira soup.

The spices

The decidedly warm North African flavors in this harira soup recipe is what makes it different from another lentil soup or chickpea soup. Here are the spices I used:

• Ground turmeric
• Ground cumin
• Ground ginger
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground black pepper
• Pinch of Cayenne (Tip: you can skip the cayenne and stir in a little bit of homemade harissa paste. It's next level delicious!)

How to make harira: Step-by-Step

(scroll down for the print-friendly recipe and complete ingredient list)

• Cook onions, celery, and carrots
  Garb a large pot or Dutch oven (this is the one I use) and cook up the chopped onions, celery and carrots in a bit of extra virgin olive oil until softened a bit (about 5 minutes). Season with kosher salt and add the garlic and spices and cook another minute or so (your kitchen will smell amazing)
  
  
• Add the tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas
  At this point, add in the tomatoes (crushed tomatoes from a can), tomato paste (this really amps up the flavor and gives the soup some good color), both green and red lentils, and drained chickpeas (I used chickpeas from a can). Add the chopped cilantro, and if you do end up using some harissa paste, this is where you stir it in. Add a pinch of kosher salt and give everything a good stir to combine.
  
  
• Add the liquid and cook
  You can use low sodium vegetable or chicken stock (7 cups, or more if you like it more brothy). Bring the soup to a boil, then turn the heat to low and cover and let simmer until the lentils are fully cooked and very tender (about 45 minutes). Make sure to check the soup occasionally to adjust the liquid; it will get thick but you want to make sure you can still pour it (plan to add a little bit of water or more stock and adjust the salt as needed).
  At this point, stir in the rice (or broken vermicelli) and cook another 15 minutes.
  
• Serve with Lemon Wedges
  Don't underestimate that fresh squeeze of lemon to wake all the earthy and deep flavors in this soup up! Cut up one or two lemons into wedges and have those available next to the soup.

  You don't need much else to serve next to this hearty soup, but a little warm pita bread won't hurt.

Leftovers

Allow the soup to cool off before storing. Pour leftovers in tight-lid containers and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Remember, this lentil and chickpea soup will thicken as it sits in the fridge; it is the nature of legumes. You can add a little bit of water to loosen the soup as you warm it through. Warm over medium heat, stirring regularly.

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