Harira soup

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Harira, a chickpea soup. it is a Moroccan/Algerian soup served mostly during the month of Ramadhan. It is hearty, filling and delicious. I have been looking for a recipe and got this one which is delicious.

Ingredients:

1½ large onion, grated (I used two medium onions)

½ glass lentils, pre-cooked

200 g chickpeas, pre-cooked (or canned)

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped

1 tsp tomato paste

2 tbsp flour

3 tbsp vermicelli

2 tbsp fresh parsley, coarsely chopped

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 liter boiling water

½ tsp ground pepper

1/3 tsp ground cinnamon

1/3 tsp ground ginger

pinch of ground turmeric

pinch of rasa el hanut (I didn't have this)

2 threads of Moroccan saffron (I used Iranian saffron, which I have)

2 tsp salt (up to you)

Method:

• Cook the soup: Put a pan over medium heat to warm up. Add oil and then onion, celery, chopped parsley, half of the chopped coriander and spices; let simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and let simmer uncovered for 5 more minutes stirring now and then. Add tomato paste, pre-cooked lentils and chickpeas and stir well – let simmer for 5 more minutes. Add water and bring to boil, then let cook for 5 minutes longer.
• Thicken the soup: In a cup dissolve the flour in a small quantity of water and carefully mix into the soup constantly stirring. Let cook for 5 more minutes stirring now and then for the flour to expand. Put the vermicelli and let cook for 5 more minutes.
• Serve: Garnished with the rest of the chopped cilantro when serving.

ingredients and methods adapted from the site mentioned above.

Broccoli Soup

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Broccoli has never been that kind of vegetable we have always or even see in markets, but thanks to globalisation and the world being a small village we know it, cook it,, and love it :)

Broccoli soup (slightly adapted from here)

Ingredients:

250 gm fresh broccoli chopped

3 tbs butter

3 garlic gloves, minced

1 medium onion, diced

salt

pepper

1/2 tsp cinnamon powder

1.5 cups milk

1/4 cup flour (mix it with the milk)

1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded

1-2 cups water

Method:

• In a deep pan , melt butter and add onion to it, let it cook for around ten minutes
• Add the mashed garlic and cook for two minutes
• Add the broccoli and water, let it cook for few minutes, add salt, pepper, and cinnamon
• After whisking the flour into milk, add it to the soup, stir till soup becomes thick, this takes around 5-10 minutes
• Now add the shredded cheese and stir till it melts
• Serve while still warm.