Authentic Moroccan Lentil Soup Recipes

Steps:

• In large pot saute; the onions, garlic, and ginger in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes.
• Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft.
• Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir and enjoy!

Steps:

• Pick over and rinse the lentils and place them in a soup pot with the cold water.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until tender, about 20 minutes.
• While the lentils are cooking, heat the olive oil in a medium sized sauté pan and add the onion, 1/2 tsp salt, and a few pinches of cayenne.
• Cook over medium heat until the onions are soft, 7 - 8 minutes; then add the diced vegetables, another 1/2 tsp of salt, and the spices.
• Cook for 5 minutes, then stir in the garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.
• Add the vegetables and the tomatoes to the lentils and their broth. Cover and cook for 30 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and cayenne.
• Garnish with the cilantro.

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, stew pot or dutch oven cook the chick peas and white beans seperately until just tender.
• Using a smaller pot, cook the lentils for 20 minutes and drain the beans and lentils.
• In the same pot, saute the onions, garlic*, ginger, paprika and cumin approximately 5 minutes in the oil. I use the olive oil for this one as the Moroccan home cooks who I know will allow this cooking of olive oil rarely and for this recipe.
• Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white beans, tomatoes, carrots, pepper and cumin, black pepper and salt to taste. Our black pepper used in a teaspoon will impart some good spicy heat to the dish. Should your black pepper not do this then please add a bit more black pepper as we do not use cayenne here.
• Bring to a boil for a 5 minutes and simmer 3/4 covered 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the beans and lentils are soft but not mushy.
• I have seen mny similar recipes on the internet stating to puree some of the soup and return it to the pot. While this is a nice idea, most Moroccan homes do not have a blender and this soup is not intended to be made as such.
• Prep. time does not include soaking and pre-cooking the beans.
• * Omit the garlic if using for Ramadan.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the onion, celery, and carrots until the onion turns translucent and begin to brown, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the turmeric, cumin, harissa or chile flakes, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 cup each of the parsley and cilantro, tomatoes, and the stock or water and bring to a boil. If using the soaked chickpeas, drain them and add to the pot. Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, then add the lentils, another teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of pepper and continue simmering until the chickpeas and lentils are cooked, about 20 minutes more. If using canned chickpeas omit the first 25 minutes of simmering and add with the lentils.
• Whisk the flour, egg, and lemon juice into 2 cups (470 ml) of water. Stir into the soup. Simmer the soup about 5 minutes more and serve, sprinkled with the remaining cilantro and parsley. And don't forget to have some extra harissa in a plate on the side.

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir carrots, onion, salt, parsley, black pepper, ginger, tarragon, and cumin in the hot oil until the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Stir lentils and tomatoes into the carrot mixture. Pour vegetable broth over the vegetables, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the lentils are tender, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Stir spinach and zucchini into the broth mixture; simmer until the zucchini is tender, about 7 minutes more. Remove pot from heat and season soup with salt. Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil over the soup before serving.