Soup · North African · Dinner ·

Tangy Tunisian Harira with Preserved Lemons

Name: Tangy Tunisian Harira with Preserved Lemons
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional; 2 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock; 1 cup green lentils, rinsed and drained; 1/2 cup chickpeas, canned or cooked; 1/3 cup orzo pasta; 2 preserved lemons, flesh and rind separated, finely chopped; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped; Lemon wedges

Dive into the comforting and piquant flavors of this Tunisian spiced soup, enhanced by the citrusy notes of preserved lemons.

4.8(320 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 4, 2025

Tangy Tunisian Harira with Preserved Lemons — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

35 min

Cook

1 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Soup Base

For the Soup

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 231 kcal
Protein: 12.1 g
Carbs: 34.7 g
Fat: 5.8 g
Fiber: 9.4 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1388 kcal
Protein: 72.6 g
Carbs: 208.2 g
Fat: 34.6 g
Fiber: 56.6 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
2 tablespoons olive oil	240	0	0	27	0
1 large onion finely chopped	50	1	11	0	2
3 cloves garlic minced	13	0.6	3	0	0.2
1 teaspoon ground cumin	8	0.4	0.9	0.5	0.4
1 teaspoon ground coriander	6	0.3	1.1	0.3	0.7
1/2 teaspoon paprika	3	0.2	0.6	0.1	0.4
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional	2	0.1	0.3	0.1	0.2
2 large tomatoes peeled and chopped	44	2	10	0.5	2.5
2 tablespoons tomato paste	30	1.5	7	0.1	1
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock	40	4	4	1	0
1 cup green lentils rinsed and drained	680	50	120	2	40
1/2 cup chickpeas canned or cooked	135	7	22	2	6
1/3 cup orzo pasta	120	4	25	1	1
2 preserved lemons flesh and rind separated, finely chopped	15	1	4	0	2
1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped	1	0.1	0.1	0	0.1
Lemon wedges	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Soup Base

1
Heat olive oil
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2
Sauté onion and garlic
Add onion and garlic, sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
3
Add spices
Stir in ground cumin, coriander, paprika, and cayenne pepper, cooking until fragrant.

Preparing the Soup

1
Add tomatoes and tomato paste
Add tomatoes and tomato paste, stir well to combine.
2
Add stock and bring to a boil
Pour in the stock, bring to a gentle boil.
Tip: Use homemade chicken or vegetable stock for a deeper flavor profile.
3
Simmer lentils
Add lentils, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes.
Tip: ⚠ Stir occasionally to prevent the lentils from sticking at the bottom. 💡 Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding more stock or letting it simmer longer for a thicker consistency.

How to Make Tangy Tunisian Harira with Preserved Lemons

Total time: 2 h 20 min · Yields 6 servings

1
Simmer the soup
Allow the lentils and chickpeas to tenderize in the simmering pot.
2
Add pasta and preserved lemons
Add orzo and preserved lemons, cooking until pasta is al dente.
3
Final touches
Adjust seasoning and stir in half the cilantro and parsley right before serving.