Moroccan recipe for a flavourful Iftar: Harira

Relishing Harira during Ramadan is a tradition that Morocco has been following since ages. Harira is basically a soup cooked with different types of legumes, lentils, meat and spices. This is often enjoyed with a desert called chebakia, which is a rich sweet made with almonds (In India, it’s referred to as almond chikki). The spiciness and richness of soup and the sweetness and crunchiness of chebakia is a match made in heaven. It’s almost impossible to find a household that doesn’t serve mint tea post Iftar in Morocco. Serving mint tea to guests is considered as a way of honouring them.

Here is a sumptuous Moroccan recipe to try out for this Ramadan:

Ingredients

• 250gms chicken Chopped

• 3-4 tsp Oil

• 1 Cup chickpeas, soaked

• 2 Green chillies

• 1 large onion Chopped

• 1 Celery with stick, chopped

• ¼ Cup parsley finely chopped

• ¼ Cup coriander leaves finely chopped

• ½ Cup Carrot Shredded

• ½ Cup Cabbage Shredded

• 2 tsp Chopped Capsicum

• 2 tsp ginger and garlic paste

• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder

• 1/2 tsp Turmeric

• ½ Coriander Powder

• 1 tsp Garam Masala

• 100gms tomato paste

• 3 tsp Masoor Dal (washed)

• 3 tsp Moong Dal (washed)

• ½ Cup Rice (washed)

• ½ Cup Roasted Vermicelli

• ½ Cup Noodles

• Salt

Preparation 

Take a Dutch pot or a soup pot.

Add oil, on a medium flame. Add Ginger and Garlic paste along with Chicken, and cook for 5 minutes.

Add chopped onions and tomato paste and cook for 2 mints.

Once the Chicken oozes out water, add shredded carrot, cabbage, capsicum, soaked chick peas, rice and lentils along with all the spices. Pour 5 glasses of water and cook for 45 minutes on medium flame or pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles.

After 45 minutes, check if the chick peas has turned soft.

Now add vermicelli and noodles along with a glass of water and cook for 5-10 minutes until done.

Tip: If you prefer the soup thicker, whisk 4tsp of flour in half cup water and add it to the soup and whisk briskly. Make sure no lumps are formed.

Close and cook for 1 minute.

Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves or parsley.

Delicious Harira is ready to be served for Iftar.

Firdaus Noorain is a food vlogger, entrepreneur, food columnist and recipe creator by hobby and Managing Director of Bake'In by profession.