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Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup (Harira)

This Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup is also know as Harira Soup and is full of incredible flavors. You will be thrilled by this one pot meal which is naturally vegan and gluten free.

A portion of the Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup on a white plate.

You know me, I’m all about simple and delicious meals. I’m not a guy who loves to spend hours and hours in the kitchen or to buy complicated ingredients.

So no wonder I’m also a big advocate of one pot meals.

Some of those I bet you have seen already. Like my One Pot Garlic Butter Lentils, the One Pot Garlic Butter Chickpeas (yes, I love the garlic butter flavor made with cacao butter), or the One Pot Red Lentil Dal.

This Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup (Harira) is no exception.

You can throw all ingredients together in one pot, no need for more bowls. Plus it’s tastes insanely delicious and is just packed with incredible flavors. I can happily confirm it’s one of my new favorites.

I made this several days for myself and friends so you can feel my fondness.

The Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup in a large white pot

This recipe is inspired by a traditional Harira Soup from Morocco. Before I became vegan, I often ate it in a restaurant only 5 blocks from where I lived.

Boy, I loved it so much, I sometimes ordered a second portion.

But of course, that soup is not vegan. It’s often made with meat, sour cream,  and beef or lamb broth. So a no-go like this now.

Recently I decided it was high time to create a plant-based version of this one of my favorites from pre-vegan days. I seriously missed the flavors.

Garnishing the Harira Soup with fresh chili and cilantro.

I hope you’re ready for this one pot wonder Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup. It’s super easy, everyone can do and make this.

It’s hearty, satisfying, customizable, full of protein thanks to double power of lentils and chickpeas, and worthy to eat it everyday.

I could tell you a lot about how we can do and make, but hey it’s so pretty easy. You will wonder why you did not make it before? No worries, I’ll show you how.

The basic version only requires 6 simple ingredients. But if you love it a bit more fancy, you can customize your soup by adding optional extras like coconut milk, pepperoni or jalapeño for an amazing spicy kick.

Herbs and turmeric to add a little pinch more color and bold flavor to it. Or a bit more broth to make the soup more liquid.

Closeup on the Harira in the large white sauce pan.

OK, now we really get going. As I said, all you need is one single pot. Grab it and let’s head over to the stove.

First heat a bit of coconut oil (or for oil free cooking just a bit of vegetable broth) and fry the garlic, onion and the optional chili or jalapeño slices if using for 5 minutes until lightly golden browned.

Then add lentils, vegetable broth, chopped tomatoes, and optional coconut milk. Cook for about ten minutes.

Finally add cooked or canned chickpeas to this pot and cook for around 5 minutes more. Check if the lentils are done. Serve with optional toppings to your liking, divide into bowls or eat straight from the pot.

You will have a hard time for waiting for bowls.

Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup on a plate with the pot in background.

Fall in love with this Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup (Harira Soup)

I’m happy to say the result turned out so amazing that I just had to post it here. It wasn’t planned from the beginning, I only created this out of curiosity.

But as I mentioned I made it several days since then. Oh boy, that’s a sign it must be good. Even my non vegan friends devoured that in no time.

Yup and they aren’t really into plant based eating. It makes an easy time saving weeknight dinner, lunch or even appetizer that you can serve even your pickiest meat lovers, like I did.

You can also make a double batch or more to enjoy the whole week.

The flavors will come out more and more. So meal preparing isn’t complicated with that and always fun.

Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup Harira

Also a great idea for date night. Look at that beautiful color. You know the saying “feed your eyes”. Yes it’s true and real, I mean what could be better than a colorful plate like this?

But seriously the best thing is even if you aren’t into cooking, you can put everything in the pot and let it do the work.

Best selling point: your sweetheart, loved one or date, all will surely be impressed. So it’s a win-win recipe, friends.

Collage of two pictures of the Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup with recipe title text.

If you try this for yourself, give me a tag on Facebook or Instagram, snap a picture and let me know.

Cheers and happy cooking, Florian.

Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup Harira | #vegan #glutenfree #contentednesscooking #plantbased #dairyfree #soyfree

Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup (Harira)

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

This Moroccan Chickpea Lentil Soup is also know as Harira Soup and is full of incredible flavors. You will be thrilled by this one pot meal which is naturally vegan and gluten free.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup red lentils, uncooked
  • 1 onion, peeled and sliced
  • 7 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 14 oz can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 cup cooked or canned chickpeas
  • 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • salt, pepper to taste

Optional add -ons:

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • chili or jalapeño slices for heat
  • parsley, coriander minced
  • 1 tsp turmeric

Instructions

  1. Heat a bit of coconut oil (or for oil free cooking just a bit of vegetable broth) and fry the garlic, onion and the optional chili or jalapeño slices if using (optional) for 5 minutes until lightly golden browned. Then add lentils, vegetable broth, chopped tomatoes, and optional coconut milk. Cook for about ten minutes.
  2. Add cooked or canned chickpeas to this pot and cook for around 5 minutes more. Check if the lentils are done. Serve with optional toppings to your liking, divide into bowls or eat straight from the pot. You will have a hard time for waiting for bowls.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 2 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 278Total Fat: 5.6gSaturated Fat: 2.2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3.2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 787mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 18g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Bex

Sunday 19th of July 2020

Tastes great and versatile that you can play with ingredients and add different veggies, spices or herbs depending on taste. I partially blend mine too.

Michelle

Saturday 28th of March 2020

This soup is Amazing! It has become one of my very favorites! :-)

Florian

Saturday 28th of March 2020

Thanks a bunch for your great feedback, Michelle! I hope you'll find lots of more recipes to try. 🙂

Miriam

Sunday 17th of November 2019

Hi! Planning on making this, but I usually like adding veggies to my soup or stews for extra nutrients. Are there any veggies you recommend adding to this recipe?

Florian

Sunday 17th of November 2019

Hi Miriam! I would guess peas, carrots or bell peppers are delicious.

Chrissy

Monday 12th of November 2018

Amazing!!! Do you know if it freezes well?

Florian

Monday 12th of November 2018

Hi Chrissy! I haven't tried it before, but I would guess why not. Let me know how it goes!

Angela

Sunday 14th of October 2018

I just can't with this meal!! It's so good. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!

Florian

Sunday 14th of October 2018

Enjoy, Angela!

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