Harira (moroccan Lentil Soup)

Total Time: 2 hrs 50 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 lb lamb or 1 lb chicken or 1 lb beef
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 3/4 cup celery
• 1 onion
• 1 red onion
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 1 (29 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 7 cups water
• 3/4 cup lentils (soaked in water overnight)
• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained (or dried ones soaked in water)
• 4 ounces vermicelli (cut in small pieces)
• 1 lemon

Recipe

• 1 chop celery, onion, cilantro.
• 2 place the lamb (bones optional, for flavoring), spices, margarine, celery, onion, and cilantro into a large pot over a low heat.
• 3 stir tomatoes(without juice) into the mixture and let simmer for 15 minutes.
• 4 pour tomato juice, 7 cups water, and the lentils into the pot.
• 5 bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. let soup simmer, covered, for 2 hours. stirring occasionally.
• 6 about 10 minutes before serving turn the heat to medium-high, place chickpeas and vermicelli into the soup, let cook about 10 minutes.
• 7 serve soup with lemon wedges on the side.
• 8 this is optional: serve with warm slices of bread, dates and boiled eggs (cut in half and sprinkled with cumin and salt).