Potage Marocain Moroccan Soup Recipes

CLASSIC MOROCCAN HARIRA: TOMATO, LENTIL, AND CHICKPEA SOUP

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat up the cooking oil in a 6-quart or larger pressure cooker. Add the meat.
• Cook for a few minutes, stirring to brown all sides.
• Add the pureed tomatoes, kosher salt, turmeric, parsley, cilantro, celery, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, onion, chickpeas, and smen (if using). Stir and add 3 cups of the water.
• Cover tightly and heat over high heat until pressure is achieved. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and release the pressure.
• Add the lentils, tomato paste mixture, and the remaining 8 cups (2 quarts) of water. If at any point there's an oily surface forming on top of the soup, simply skim it off and discard. This can happen because of the meat's fat, if left on.
• Have the rice or vermicelli at hand, if using, but don't add yet.
• Cover the pot and heat the soup over high heat until pressure is achieved. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking. If adding rice, cook the soup on pressure for 30 minutes. Release the pressure and add the rice. Cover and cook with pressure for an additional 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if desired. If using vermicelli, cook the soup on pressure for 45 minutes. Release the pressure, and add the vermicelli. Simmer the soup, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes or until the vermicelli is plump and cooked. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if desired.
• While the soup is cooking, make a soup thickener by mixing together the flour and water.
• Mix well, but if the mixture is not smooth, pass it through a sieve to remove lumps.
• Bring the soup to a full simmer. Slowly, and in a thin stream, pour in 1/4 of the flour mixture. Stir constantly and keep the soup simmering so the flour doesn't stick to the bottom or cooks up in lumps.
• Add another 1/4 of the flour thickener. You will notice the soup beginning to thicken when you've used approximately half the flour mixture. The thickness of harira is up to you.
• Simmer the thickened soup, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes to cook off the taste of the flour. Remove the soup from the heat, serve, and garnish with some chopped parsley. Enjoy.

MEATLESS HARIRA (A MOROCCAN SOUP)

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, saute the onion, parsley, celery, pepper and turmeric in the butter for a few minutes, then add the cinnamon and other spices.
• Saute on very low heat for about 15 minutes or less, until the onions are soft and the spices are well-distributed.
• Wash the lentils.
• Puree the coriander leaves in a blender with a little water, or pound with a mortar and pestle.
• Add both to the pot, along with the crushed tomatoes (I also like to puree the tomatoes in the blender before I add them, to eliminate any large chunks that might remain).
• Cook for 15 minutes over low heat, and then add 1 1/2 quarts of water (about 7 cups).
• Add the soup cube.
• Cook on low/medium heat until the lentils are soft (I usually let the soup cook for about 2 hours to allow the flavors to blend).
• A few minutes before serving, add salt to the soup (you could also add some vermicelli or other small soup noodle at this point, but I personally don't; if you do, make sure to allow an extra few minutes for the noodles to cook).
• Add the flour and water mixture; mix well to prevent lumps from forming.
• Serve with lemon wedges on the side, to be squeezed over the soup.

POTAGE MAROCAIN (MOROCCAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Combine first 7 ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
• Place half of squash mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape) and secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth.
• Pour pureed mixture into a large bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining squash mixture. Return pureed mixture to pan over low heat. Add milk and butter to pan and cook 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with yogurt and cilantro.

LIGHT N' FRESH TOMATO ONION AND GARLIC SOUP

Steps:

• Put all ingredients in pot or pressure cooker and allow to cook for 4 minutes if using pressure cooker and 6 minutes if using a pot.
• Let the soup come to room temperature. Run in mixer till absolutely smooth.
• Pour in bowls and enjoy hot.
• You can add a dash of cream or some butter or 1/2 tsp of light soya sauce per bowl for added flavour.

B'SARRA (MOROCCAN SOUP)

Steps:

• Drain the beans. In a hot frying pan, saute the garlic and onion in 1 tbsp olive oil until translucent and aromatic (2-3 minutes).
• Add the peas, spices and salt. Cover in water to just over an inch above the peas.
• Bring to a boil then simmer until the peas are tender (about 1 hour), adding more water if it begins to look dry.
• Puree mixture with a hand-blender or use a potato masher. Add more water, if needed, and check for seasoning.
• Serve with small bowls of freshly made harissa to sprinkle on top of the soup, wedges of fresh lemon, a swirl of argan or olive oil, and plenty of fresh khobz (Moroccan bread-can use French or Italian bread).

CARROT POTAGE

Steps:

• Melt butter and sauté onion until transparent.
• Add other ingredients, bring to boil and simmer, covered for 30 minutes.
• Blend until smooth, reheat if needed.