Soup · Dinner · African ·

Moroccan Harira with Lentils and Lamb

Name: Moroccan Harira with Lentils and Lamb
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: Olive oil, 2 tablespoons; Onion, 1 large, finely chopped; Garlic cloves, 3 cloves, minced; Ground ginger, 1 teaspoon; Ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon; Ground cumin, 1 teaspoon; Ground turmeric, 1 teaspoon; Lamb shoulder, 500g, cut into bite-sized pieces; Dried lentils, 1 cup, rinsed; Chickpeas, 1/2 cup, soaked overnight; Beef or vegetable stock, 1.5 liters; Tomatoes, 2 cups, chopped; Tomato paste, 2 tablespoons; Cilantro, 1 bunch, finely chopped; Salt and pepper, To taste; Lemon juice, Juice of 1 lemon; Fresh cilantro, For garnish

A rich and flavorful Moroccan soup combining tender lamb, lentils, and a blend of aromatic spices.

5(134 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 12, 2025

Moroccan Harira with Lentils and Lamb — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

50 min

Cook

2 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Soup Base

For the Lamb and Pulses

For the Broth

For the Final Touch

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 353 kcal
Protein: 21.2 g
Carbs: 25.9 g
Fat: 17.8 g
Fiber: 4.8 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2492 kcal
Protein: 154.5 g
Carbs: 184.1 g
Fat: 126.4 g
Fiber: 34.4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Olive oil 2 tablespoons	238	0	0	27	0
Onion 1 large, finely chopped	60	1.5	14	0	3
Garlic cloves 3 cloves, minced	13	0.5	3	0	0.2
Ground ginger 1 teaspoon	6	0.1	1.4	0.1	0.1
Ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon	6	0.1	2.2	0	1.4
Ground cumin 1 teaspoon	8	0.4	0.9	0.5	0.6
Ground turmeric 1 teaspoon	8	0.3	1.4	0.2	0.5
Lamb shoulder 500g, cut into bite-sized pieces	1210	88	0	93	0
Dried lentils 1 cup, rinsed	678	50	116	3	16
Chickpeas 1/2 cup, soaked overnight	134	7	22	2	6
Beef or vegetable stock 1.5 liters	30	3	0	0	0
Tomatoes 2 cups, chopped	54	2	12	0.5	3.5
Tomato paste 2 tablespoons	30	1	7	0	2
Cilantro 1 bunch, finely chopped	4	0.4	1	0.1	0.6
Salt and pepper To taste	0	0	0	0	0
Lemon juice Juice of 1 lemon	12	0.2	4	0.1	0.4
Fresh cilantro For garnish	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Lamb

1
Combine spices and lamb
Combine lamb pieces with ground ginger, cinnamon, cumin, and turmeric.
2
Coat with oil
Add olive oil and mix well to coat the lamb.
3
Marinate
Let marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Preparing the Vegetables

1
Heat oil
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2
Sauté onions
Sauté onions until translucent, about 5 minutes.
3
Add garlic
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more.

How to Make Moroccan Harira with Lentils and Lamb

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Brown the lamb
Brown the marinated lamb pieces in the pot with onions and garlic.
2
Add the pulses
Stir in lentils and chickpeas, coating them with the mixture.
3
Simmer the soup
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, broth, and cilantro. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 1.5 hours.