Harira is a must have on the Algerian’s and Moroccan’s Ramadan table (at least once during Ramadan).
After breaking the fast with dates and milk, Algerians and Moroccans start their Iftar with a soup. It can be Harira or any other type of soups.
Harira is served with lemon wedges (for squeezing), French bread or traditional bread such as Matloua or bourek , you name it!
Harira is prepared with meat (lamb, beef or chicken), vegetables, herbs and so may spices. Harira can be vegetarian and vegan as well.
There are varieties of Harira soup. Some recipes call for the use of cracked green wheat (Frik or freekah) along with the ingredients cited in the recipe. other recipes call for the add of vermicelli , barley semolina ( tchicha), etc.
This recipe is one of the Harira varieties from Algeria. It is healthy, smooth and delicious!
🇩🇿 Best Algerian Harira or Hrira
Ingredients
- 1 lb Beef in bones or lamb, cut into small pieces
- 1 medium onion, roughly cut
- 2 green onions (optional)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 big zucchini
- 3 medium carrots
- 3 medium tomatoes
- 3 celery stalks
- ¼ cup lentils
- 1 cup chickpeas soaked overnight
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1/8 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/4 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1/2 bunch cilantro plus extra for garnishing(chopped)
- 1/2 bunch parsley
- Salt to taste
- Water
- Lemon wedges for serving (optional)
Instructions
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Soak the lentils in a cup of warm water.
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Boil the tomatoes in a saucepan for few seconds, then remove the outer skin. Set aside.
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Put olive oil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Add in the meat, the bunch of cilantro, parsley and all the vegetables.
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Stir for a minute or two then add tomato paste and all the spices.
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Stir well until the meat gets all the flavors from the spices. Take out the meat and set aside.
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Cover the vegetables with hot water, add in the drained and rinsed lentils. Bring to boil then reduce the heat to medium low. Let it cook for about 20 minutes.
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Put the meat in another saucepan over medium high heat and cover it with hot water. Add a pinch of salt.
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Toss the chickpeas in the meat saucepan. Bring to boil and let cook over medium to medium low heat for about 30 to 40 minutes or until everything is fully cooked.
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Once the vegetable are cooked, take out the celery stalks and the 1/2 bunch of cilantro and parsley. Discard them.
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Pour the rest of vegetables in a blender and blend them or you can use an immersion blender.
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Pour back the blended vegetables in the same saucepan over medium heat.
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Add hot water.
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Add in the meat and chickpeas with their water.
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Bring to a boil.
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Put the tablespoon of flour in half cup of warm water. Mix well until no lumps.
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Once everything is cooked, reduce the heat to low and pour the flour mixture in the saucepan.
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Stir constantly until the soup thickened while it is gently simmering.
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Keep stirring for about 15 minutes until you obtain a nice smooth and thick soup.
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Turn off the heat and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
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Serve warm with lemon wedges(optional) and your favorite type of bread.
Recipe Notes
- If you use cinnamon stick in the Harira, make sure you remove it before blending the vegetables.
- If you use big pieces of meat, you can cut them later into small pieces after they are fully cooked.
- You can make Harira with Chicken of course.
- The reason why I cook the meat in another saucepan is to avoid having some bones in the blender when pureeing the vegetables.Â
- You can use more than 1 tablespoon flour to thicken your Harira soup. I am comfortable to use 1 tablespoon only.Â
Never heard of a soup with both lentils and chickpeas in Levant/Mediterranean cuisine. Thanks for sharing! Which region is this from?
Hrira or Harira can be found in Algeria and Morocco.
I wish I had read this post last week. Everyone in the family was down with cold . This soup would have lifted our souls then. The soup looks delicious
This soup is very healthy, please try to make it and stay healthy 😊.
This harira is so much more than just a soup! It must be a delicious meal to serve in the second part of the day when everyone is hungry and needs some energy boost!
Sure!
This looks like a filling soup that can warm up during cold days. It is interesting to see that it is Mediterranean, too!
It is healthy and Mediterranean 😉
I’ve never had lamb in a soup but it sounds absolutely divine.
If you try it , I promise you will fall in love with it.
I love that this soup uses lamb! It’s such a delicious addition and nice change of pace from most other soups. Thanks for a great recipe!
It’s my pleasure .
This mediterranean soup is full of vegetables and flavor. This is a great hearty soup after a long day of work.
I agree.
This soup sounds so hearty and flavorful! I am going to try this recipe sometime. Love it’s name as well. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure.
I love this combination of spices, lamb, and chickpeas. It’s so delicious on a chilly winter evenings. I like to eat it with pita bread to soak up the broth. Yum!!
Me too I like to eat it with pita or any type of bread.
I love lamb but rarely use it in soup! This soup sounds so flavourful. I like that it has lentils and chickpeas. Very healthy!
Thanks.
I have not had lamb in soup and am loving all the veggies in this recipe. I imagine the hint of flavor from the cinnamon is absolutely delicious!
Absolutely delicious 😋.
I don’t think I’ve ever tried lamb before – in soup or otherwise. But, this soup looks and sounds so good, I’m going to have to try buying some lamb and trying it.
Awesome.
wow! this soup is full of goodness! so hearty wonderful!
Thank you.
Wow, this soup is filled with so many wonderful spices and flavors. Looks warming and delicious soup.
Thank you.
Such simple ingredients but loaded with flavor! Must try this delicious Mediterranean soup!
Thanks.
Oh yummy – this looks so much more inviting that my usual potato and leek soup!
I like potato and leek soup but I adore the Harira, please try it 😉.
I have never had soup made with lamb. We do love to eat lamb, so I know this would be in interesting soup to try.
Sure!
I love a good harira, it’s so filling and comforting. I like all the spices you put in, looks delicious!
Aww thanks Stine Mari!
so many wonderful flavors here! i absolutely love lamb and it sounds like perfection in this soup.
Thank you so much.