🍲 How to Make Harira – A Warm Bowl of Moroccan Comfort & Tradition 🇲🇦

Harira is more than just soup—it’s a bowl of Moroccan soul. This rich tomato-based dish made with lentils, chickpeas, herbs, and spices is a cultural treasure. It brings families together, especially during Ramadan, but is also enjoyed year-round for its comforting warmth and flavor.

A hearty bowl of Harira – the taste of Moroccan tradition
Photo by Soufari Rabah

❤️ What is Harira?

Harira is a traditional Moroccan soup made with tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and often lamb or beef. It’s thickened with tedouira, a flour and water mixture, and flavored with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, fresh herbs, and sometimes vermicelli. It’s especially beloved during Ramadan as the go-to dish for breaking the fast.

🌟 Why You'll Love Harira

• Nutritious & filling – Full of plant proteins and fiber
• Deeply flavorful – Layers of spices and herbs
• Versatile – Can be made with or without meat
• Culturally rich – A meal steeped in Moroccan tradition

🛒 Ingredients (Traditional)

• 200g diced lamb or beef
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1/2 cup green or brown lentils
• 2 large tomatoes, grated
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 celery stalk with leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 cups water or broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 cup flour mixed with 1/2 cup water (tedouira)
• 1 beaten egg (optional)
• Vermicelli (optional)
• Lemon wedges and dates for serving

👨‍🍳 How to Make Harira

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Sauté onions, meat, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, salt, and pepper for 5–7 minutes.
2. Add blended tomatoes, tomato paste, celery, parsley, and cilantro. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add lentils, chickpeas, and water or broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes.
4. Stir in tedouira to thicken. Simmer for another 10 minutes.
5. Add vermicelli and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in beaten egg if using.
6. Serve hot with lemon wedges and Moroccan dates or chebakia.

🕌 Harira in Ramadan

Harira is the iconic dish of Ramadan in Morocco. It's the first thing many Moroccans eat after sunset, along with dates, boiled eggs, and chebakia. The aroma alone signals the end of a fast and the beginning of a cherished meal.

🇲🇦 Authentic and Proudly Moroccan

⚠️ Note on Authenticity: Harira is originally and uniquely Moroccan. While similar soups exist elsewhere, the authentic taste, ingredients, and tradition of Harira are rooted deeply in Moroccan heritage. From the essential tedouira to its sacred place during iftar, Harira is not a shared regional dish—it’s a Moroccan icon.

💬 Let’s Talk!

Have you ever tried Harira or made it at home? Share your thoughts or your own twist on this beloved soup in the comments below!

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