Traditional Moroccan Harira

Traditional Moroccan Harira is a medium Moroccan recipe that serves 6. 250 calories per serving. Recipe by Oum Arwa on YouTube.

Prep: 35 min | Cook: 48 min | Total: 1 hr 38 min

Cost: $10.40 total, $1.73 per serving

Ingredients

  • 2 cuillère à soupe Olive oil (To sauté onion and meat)
  • 1 unité Yellow onion (Large, finely chopped)
  • 200 g Red meat (veal, lamb or beef) (Cut into cubes)
  • 1 cuillère à café Salt
  • 0.5 cuillère à café Black pepper
  • 1 cuillère à café Ground ginger
  • 1 cuillère à café Ground turmeric
  • 1 cuillère à café Sweet paprika
  • 1 pincée Cinnamon (or small stick)
  • 30 g Fresh coriander (Chopped, added at end of cooking)
  • 30 g Flat parsley (Chopped, added at end of cooking)
  • 2 branches Celery stalk (Chopped)
  • 3 unités Fresh tomatoes (Grated or blended)
  • 150 g Dried chickpeas (Soaked the night before and frozen)
  • 100 g Red lentils (Rinsed)
  • quelques filaments Saffron threads (Optional, adds color and aroma)
  • 1.5 L Boiling water (Not warm water)
  • 100 g Very fine spaghetti (angel hair) (Quick cooking, 2-3 min)
  • 30 g Unsalted butter (Adds creaminess)
  • 1 cuillère à soupe Lemon juice (Juice of ½ lemon, added at end)
  • 2-3 cuillère à soupe Tomato concentrate (Or canned tomato purée)
  • 2 cuillère à soupe Flour (Dilute in cold water to avoid lumps)

Instructions

  1. Ingredient preparation

    Chop the onion, dice the celery, grate the tomatoes, measure the spices, prepare the flour/water mixture in a bowl.

    Time: PT15M

  2. Sauté onion and meat

    Heat 2 c. à s. d olive oil in the pressure cooker, add the chopped onion and sweat it for 2 min, then add the meat and brown it for 3 min.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: feu moyen

  3. Add spices

    Stir in the salt, pepper, ginger, turmeric, paprika and pinch of cinnamon, then mix for 2 min.

    Time: PT2M

  4. Incorporate vegetables and legumes

    Add the chopped celery, grated tomatoes, soaked chickpeas, rinsed lentils and saffron threads. Immediately pour 1.5 L boiling water, stir and cover.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: feu moyen

  5. Pressure cooking

    Close the pressure cooker, bring to high pressure and cook 20‑25 min. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 min before opening.

    Time: PT25M

  6. Prepare angel hair and butter

    Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, cook the very fine spaghetti 2‑3 min, drain. Cut the butter into small pieces.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: eau bouillante

  7. Prepare the binder (flour + water)

    In a bowl, mix 2 c. à s. of flour with 100 ml cold water, whisk until smooth.

    Time: PT3M

  8. Thicken the soup

    Open the pot, scrape the bottom, add the flour/water mixture in a stream while stirring. Adjust consistency with boiling water if the soup is too thick.

    Time: PT5M

  9. Add tomato concentrate

    Stir in 2‑3 c. à s. of tomato concentrate, let simmer 10 min on low heat, stirring regularly.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: feu doux

  10. Incorporate angel hair and butter

    Add the cooked spaghetti and the butter, mix and cook 5 min over medium heat.

    Time: PT5M

    Temperature: feu moyen

  11. Aromatic finishing

    Add chopped coriander and parsley, then the juice of half a lemon, stir 1 min.

    Time: PT1M

  12. Serving

    Turn off the heat, scrape the bottom one last time, serve hot with croutons, hard‑boiled eggs, dates or briouats.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
250
Protein
12 g
Carbohydrates
30 g
Fat
8 g
Fiber
5 g

Dietary info: gluten‑free (if using rice flour), vegetarian possible (by omitting meat), halal (if halal meat is chosen), low-calorie, low-fat, high-fiber

Allergens: gluten (flour, pasta), lactose (butter)

Last updated: April 7, 2026

Amazon Associates

Amazon Associates PartnerTrusted

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page. This helps support our site at no extra cost to you. Clicking on ingredient or equipment links will take you to amazon.com where you can purchase these items.

Traditional Moroccan Harira

Recipe by Oum Arwa

Spicy and comforting soup from Morocco, essential during Ramadan. This harira combines red meat, legumes, tomatoes, spices and fine pasta, all brightened with a splash of lemon and fresh herbs. Easy to prepare with a pressure cooker or a classic pot.

MediumMoroccanServes 6

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
21m
Prep
1h 2m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
1h 33m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$10.40
Total cost
$1.73
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Sauté onion and meat to brown the meat
  • Add boiling water immediately after the vegetables
  • Pressure cooking (20‑25 min)
  • Thicken the soup with the flour/water mixture
  • Add lemon juice at the end of cooking

Safety Warnings

  • Be very careful with the pressure cooker pressure: never open before the valve has fully released.
  • Handle boiling water with care to avoid burns.
  • Do not let the butter burn during the final cooking.

You Might Also Like

Similar recipes converted from YouTube cooking videos

Moroccan Harira Soup
2

Moroccan Harira Soup

A traditional Moroccan soup rich in protein and spices, ideal for Ramadan. This express version uses a Harira spice mix box and pre‑prepared ingredients for a comforting meal in under two hours.

1 hr 35 minServes 6$12
Moroccan
Traditional Moroccan shortbread
13

Traditional Moroccan shortbread

These Moroccan shortbread cookies, very crumbly and flavored with vanilla, are the base dough used for weddings and celebrations in Morocco. Easy to prepare in large quantities, they can be cut into various shapes and bake quickly in a fan‑forced oven. Ideal to enjoy plain or topped with jam, salted butter caramel or chocolate.

1 hr 40 minServes 12$10
Moroccan
Traditional Moroccan shortbread
14

Traditional Moroccan shortbread

Soft and melt-in-the-mouth Moroccan shortbread, ideal for weddings, parties or tea time. This dough made with butter, powdered sugar, oil and flour yields leavening‑free cookies, easy to shape and decorate as you wish.

1 hr 20 minServes 12$11
Moroccan
Traditional Moroccan Couscous
37

Traditional Moroccan Couscous

Learn how to prepare an authentic Moroccan couscous, flavored with spices, vegetables, and lamb meat, with perfectly aerated fine couscous. This detailed recipe guides you step by step, from sautéing the aromatics to steaming the couscous, for a convivial meal for 5 people.

3 hrs 10 minServes 5$19
Moroccan
Moroccan Harira
9

Moroccan Harira

Traditional Moroccan Ramadan soup, rich in lentils, chickpeas, meat and aromatic herbs. Easy to prepare with a pressure cooker, it warms the body and soul.

1 hr 34 minServes 6$10
Moroccan
Traditional Moroccan Harira
15

Traditional Moroccan Harira

Rich and comforting Moroccan soup made with meat, tomatoes, chickpeas and lentils, perfect for Ramadan or cozy evenings. Served with dates, hard‑boiled eggs and semolina flatbreads (harcha).

2 hrs 5 minServes 6$16
Moroccan