The Harira is the national soup.

During 30 days of Ramadan, every house prepares this perfumed soup, imprenating the streets of its scent at the sundown

It is eaten along with dates, or honey sweeties (Chabakkia, briouats with almonds and honey).

There are many varieties of this soup, but the classical one is the following. It should be prepared in two times:

1. Bouillon (Bubbling)
2. Tédouira.

Ingredients for Bubbling

• 250g of beef or muton meat cut into little pieces
• juice of 1 lemon
• 4 or 5 little fleshy bones
• 500 g of whole litthe onions
• a half coffee spoonful of safran (half natural and half artificial)
• 1 coffee spoonful of pepper
• 1 butter walnut
• 250 g of lentil
• salt
• 1 & half liter of water for the bubbling

Preparation

Cook the lentil in salted water, darin the juice of 1 citron. Put it apart. Cook the other ingredients in an under cover saucepan on a little fire, after boiling, remove the onions when they are cooked to keep them complete.

1 hour past, verify that meat is cooked then remove it fron fire, put the lentil and the onions in the same container.

Ingredients for Tédouira

• 1 bouquet of coriander
• 1 bouquet of parsley
• 1 kg and a half of moulded tomatoes or 1 box of concentrated and mixed tomatoes in 1 litre and a half of water
• 2 litres and a half of water
• 1 3/4 filled cup tea of lemon juice
• 1 butterwalnut
• 200 g of flour
• salt

Preparation

Boil water with the moulded or concentrated tomatoes, add butter, then boil for quarter an hour, add the bubbling juice over the meat, lentil, onions, ect…in the saucepan.

Out of fire, put the mixed flour in 1 litre of water, while shaking it fast to avoid having clots. Put it back on fire, then shake the mixture till boiling.

Add the parsley and corrainder cut to little pieces or crushed with mortar with the necessary quantity of salt for condiment.

Dilute with 1 liter of water, and pour into the marmite, keep shaking (we can also crush them in a mixer full of water). Verify the condiment and remove it from fire when the soup is very hot.

The harira should be velvety, not thick.

N.B. We can replace meat by the fellings of chiken.

The website of the government of Morocco, printed out by my grandmother on November 22, 1999

Ingredients

• 200g de lardons
• 800g de cubes de potiron (ou courge butternut)
• 1 oignon
• 400g de tomates pelées en cubes
• 1 l d’eau
• 2 cubes de bouillon de volaille
• 2 c à s d’huile d’olive
• 1 gousse d’ail
• 1 bouquet garni
• poivre et sel

Preparation

Faites revenir à bon feu les cubes de potiron, l’oignon haché, et l’ail émincé dans une casserole contenant l’huile d’olive. Après 2 min, ajoutez les tomates, l’eau, les cubes de bouillon émiettés et le bouquet garni. Portez à ébullition et laissez mijoter 25 min à feu doux. Laissez reposer 5 min.

Pendant ce temps, faites rissoler les lardons dans une poêle anti-adhésive, sans matière grasse, en débutant la cuisson à feu doux et en l’augmentant quand le gras commence à fondre. Égouttez-les sur du papier absorbant.

Retirez le bouquet garni de la soupe et mixez-la finement. Ajoutez les lardons et rectifiez l’assaisonnement.

Servez bien chaud, avec du pain.

Delhaize

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 pound unpeeled medium shrimp
• 3 teaspoons salt
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika (or 1 tsp. aji amarillo paste, if available)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• Dash Tabasco sauce
• 1 small butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/2 small head green cabbage (about 1 1/4 pounds), chopped (about 1 quart)
• 1 pound baking potatoes (about 2), peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
• 4 ears of corn, halved
• 2 quarts water (or seafood stock)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup frozen peas (optional)

Preparation

In a large pot, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the shrimp and 1 teaspoon of the salt and cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are pink and firm, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon. When the shrimp are cool enough to handle, peel them and set aside.

Add the onion, garlic, cayenne, paprika (or aji amarillo), cumin, oregano, and another teaspoon of the salt to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the Tabasco, squash, cabbage, potatoes, corn, and water to the pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.

Add the cream and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the peeled shrimp, the remaining teaspoon of salt, and the peas, if using. Cook until the shrimp are just heated through, about 2 minutes.

Food & Wine, tweaked

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 3 lb. bone-in beef short ribs, cut into 2" segments
• salt
• 6 scallions, white and dark green parts separated
• 8 cloves garlic
• 1 4" piece ginger, scrubbed, sliced
• 6 star anise pods
• 2 3" cinnamon sticks
• 8 whole cloves
• 2 tsp. black peppercorns
• 2 tsp. coriander seeds.
• 1 c. dry white wine
• 1/2 c. (or more) soy sauce
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 5 lb. onions (about 10 medium), thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp. rice vinegar
• 30 oz. fresh or 18 oz. dried ramen noodles

Preparation

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Season short ribs with salt and, working in batches, cook, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides, 12–14 minutes. Transfer to a platter as you go. Carefully pour off fat left behind in pot until there is just enough to cover bottom of pot; discard.

Return pot to medium heat. Cook whole white scallion parts, garlic, and ginger, stirring occasionally, until they are starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Add star anise, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, and coriander seeds and cook, stirring often, until fragrant and oil is sizzling, about 1 minute. Add wine, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pot with a wooden spoon. Simmer until almost completely evaporated, about 3 minutes. Return beef to pot and add soy sauce and 12 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover partially with a lid. Simmer until meat is not quite falling off the bone, about 1½ hours.

Meanwhile, heat butter in another large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high until foaming subsides. Add onions, season with salt, and cook, stirring often, until they begin to take on some color, about 15 minutes. (If they don’t fit in your pot, add as much as you can, cover, and steam 5 minutes. Stir in remaining onions and continue cooking.) Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are deep golden and softened but not mushy, 30–45 minutes.

Using tongs, remove beef from broth and let cool until you can handle. Tear meat into bite-size pieces, discarding any bone and excess fat as you go. Strain broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard solids.

Add meat and broth to pot with onions. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until liquid is reduced a bit and flavors have melded, about 30 minutes. Add vinegar; taste and add more vinegar and/or soy sauce if needed.

Thinly slice remaining scallion greens. Cook noodles according to package directions. Divide among bowls. Ladle soup over noodles, making sure each bowl gets some meat and plenty of onions. Top with scallion greens and serve.

BA, March 2020

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp. butter
• 3 medium onions, finely chopped (2 c.)
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped (1 tbsp.)
• 2 lbs. beets, coarsely grated (4 c. packed)
• 2 med. turnips, coarsely grated
• 1 celery root, coarsely grated
• 1 parsley root or parsnip, coarsely grated
• 4 med. tomatoes, coarsely chopped (4 c.)
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. salt pepper
• 1/2 c. red wine vinegar
• 10 c. (2 1/2 quarts) beef stock
• 2 lb. head of green cabbage, cut into 2" squares and then shredded
• 1 lb. potatoes, in 2" squares
• 1 lb. polish sausage, in 1/2" slices, browned
• 1 med. raw beet, grated, with 3 tbsp. water
• 2 c. sour cream
• 1/2 c. fresh dill

Preparation

In a 4 quart heavy dutch oven, melt butter and cook onions and garlic until slightly colored (8–10 minutes). Add the next nine ingredients (from beets to vinegar), and 2 c. of the beef stock. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then lower the heat and cook partially covered for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring the remaining 8 c. of beef stock to a boil in a large soup pot. Add the cabbage and potatoes. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are almost tender.

When the beet mixture has finished cooking, pour it into the veggies. Add sausage. Strain the water from the soaking beets and add it to the soup to brighten its color.

Serve with dill and sour cream.

Alternative: You can add some dill and bay leaves to the beet mixture, and then add browned stew meat when you add the sausage.

From an exchange student who lived with my grandparents, 1960s

Ingredients

• 1 nice chicken
• 20g butter
• 1 egg
• 1 slice of bread per person
• Lemon
• 20cl cream
• 5 parsley roots/parsnips
• 5 potatoes
• 2 onions, cut in half
• 5 carrots
• 6 celery stalks
• 1 clove
• Thyme
• Bay leaf
• Pepper and salt
• Parsley

Preparation

The day before, prepare a nice chicken stock using the chicken. Discard the skin, but reserve the meat and the bones.

Place the bones in a large soup pot and cover them with half water and half chicken stock. Add the onions and the rest of the vegetables, either chopped medium-size or in large julienne. Add the clove, thyme, and bay leaf, and lightly season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer on low heat for three hours.

Remove the bones and spices, and reserve the vegetables. Add the cream and butter to the broth, and adjust the seasoning. Add all the vegetables and the chicken meat.

Just before serving, temper the egg yolk in broth and add it to the soup, then heat the soup slowly, making sure the egg yolk doesn’t cook.

Serve with chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and a slice of bread and butter on the side.

visit.brussels

Ingredients

• 400 g. chestnuts
• 2 lg shallots, minced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 c. dried porcini mushrooms, rinsed
• 4 c. chicken broth
• 1/2 c. heavy cream
• salt and pepper

Preparation

Place the dried porcinis in hot water to steep. In a 2-qt sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the carrot, celery, and shallot. Cook vegetables until soft. Coarsely chop the chestnuts and add them to the pan. Add the porcini and the steeping liquid (being careful not to add any dirt at the bottom of the bowl).

Add broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer until all ingredients are fork-tender, 15–25 minutes. Remove from heat and homogenize with an immersion blender. Return to low heat, add cream, and season to taste.

D’Artagnan

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried brown or green lentils
• 12 to 15 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs (fat trimmed)
• 6 c. chicken stock
• 1 c. water
• 1 small yellow onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 scallions, white and light-green parts, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium-size ripe tomato, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic (powder)
• 1 teaspoon ground sumac (may substitute cumin)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or more as needed

Preparation

Combine the lentils, chicken (to taste), water, stock, onion, scallions, garlic, tomato, cilantro, granulated garlic, ground sumac, oregano, paprika and salt in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot.

Lock the pressure-cooker lid in place. Turn the heat to high; once the pot reaches HIGH pressure, cook for 30 minutes, adjusting the heat to maintain pressure, as needed. For the Instant Pot, lock the lid and press the SOUP button and cook for 30 minutes. Use the pressure releases, then unlock and open.

Transfer the chicken to a cutting board; use two forks to shred it, then return it to the pot, stirring to incorporate. Taste, and adjust the salt, as needed.

Washington Post

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lentils
• 1 onion
• 5 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ lb. Spanish chorizo
• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 3 tbsp. parsley
• 7 c. water
• 3 tbsp. sherry vinegar
• 2 bay leaves
• ⅛ tsp. ground cloves
• 2 tbsp. smoked paprika
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour

Preparation

Place lentils and 2 teaspoons salt in pot. Cover with 4 cups boiling water and let soak for 30 minutes. Drain.

Finely chop three-quarters of onion and grate remaining quarter. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add chorizo and brown, 6-8 minutes. Transfer chorizo to plate. Reduce heat to low and add chopped onion, carrots, 1 tbsp. parsley, and 1 tsp. salt. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very soft but not brown, 25 to 30 minutes. If vegetables begin to brown, add water.

Add lentils and sherry vinegar to vegetables; increase heat to medium-high; and cook, stirring frequently, until vinegar starts to evaporate, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 7 cups water, chorizo, bay leaves, and cloves; bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low; cover; and cook until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.

Heat remaining 3 tbsp. oil in small saucepan over medium heat. Add paprika, grated onion, garlic, and ½ tsp. pepper; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute longer. Remove chorizo and bay leaves from lentils. Stir paprika mixture into lentils and continue to cook until flavors have blended and soup has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. When chorizo is cool enough to handle, cut in half lengthwise, then cut each half into ¼-inch-thick slices. Return chorizo to soup along with remaining 2 tablespoons parsley and heat through, about 1 minute. Season with salt, pepper, and up to 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar to taste, and serve.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp. vegetable oil
• 3 stalks lemon grass, sliced thin
• 3 large shallots, chopped
• 8 sprigs fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• 3 tbsp. fish sauce
• 4 c. chicken broth
• 2 14 oz. cans coconut milk
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• ½ lb. white mushrooms, cut into 1/4" slices
• 1 lb. pork tenderloin, halved lengthwise, sliced into 1/8" thick pieces
• 3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
• 2 tsp. red curry paste

Preparation

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add lemon grass, shallots, cilantro, and 1 tbsp. fish sauce; cook, stirring frequently, until just softened, 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in chicken broth and 1 can coconut milk; bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Strain broth, return to pan.

Return pan to medium-high heat. Stir remaining can coconut milk and sugar into broth mixture and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium, add mushrooms, and cook until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add pork and cook, stirring constantly, until no longer pink, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove soup from heat.

Combine lime juice, curry paste, and remaining 2 tablespoons fish sauce in small bowl; stir into soup.