Moroccan harira soup with harissa

12 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
½ cup All-purpose flour
2 tablespoons Olive oil
1 To 2 lamb shanks, trimmed (3/4 lb)
1 large Onion(s), coarsely chopped
2 Stalks celery with leaves coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon Pepper
½ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Ground allspice
1 pinch Saffron threads, crushed
6 To 8 large chicken wings (about 1 lb)
3 quarts Water
3 tablespoons Pearl barley, washed
1 ounce Small red whole dried hot chile soaked in water to cover for 1 hour
½ teaspoon Ground coriander seeds
The Versatile Grain
and the
Elegant Bean
by Sheryl and Mel London
ISBN 0-671-76106-4
pg 487-488
⅓ cup Warm water
3 tablespoons Long-grain brown rice
⅔ cup Whole red lentils
5 Plum tomatoes fresh or canned
1 tablespoon Tomato paste
1 cup Parsley leaves
½ cup Cilantro leaves
¼ cup Water
2 teaspoons Salt or to taste
1 cup Drained, cooked chick-peas or canned chick-peas rinsed and drained
Lemon wedges
1 teaspoon Ground cumin seeds
½ teaspoon Caraway seeds
2 Garlic clove(s)
Salt to taste
Olive oil

Directions

STARTER

SOUP

HARISSA PASTE (OPT

Starter: Prepare 2-3 days in advance. Mix the flour and water together in a small non-metallic bowl, cover lightly with waxed paper and allow to ferment at room temperature in a warm place for 2-3 days. Stir it each morning with a wooden spoon.

Soup: Heat oil over medium heat in a heavy 7-qt. pot. Sear the lamb shank in the oil, add the chopped onions, celery and carrots. Add the pepper, cinnamon, allspice and saffron and saut‚, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat, until the vegetables are wilted.

Add the chicken wings and water, raise the heat to medium and bring to a boil. Skim foam from surface and add the barley, rice and red lentils. Cover, lower heat to simmer and cook for 50 minutes.

Lift out chicken wings and lamb shank and let meats cool enough to handle. Pur‚e the tomatoes and tomato paste in the bowl of a food processor and add to the simmering soup. Then, in the same unwashed food processor, process the parsley, cilantro, and ¬ cup of water and add to the soup. Stir in the salt and the cooked chick-peas and simmer for 10 minutes more. Meanwhile, remove the meat from the chicken wings and add to the soup. Then cut the lamb from the bone into bite-size pieces and add them to the soup as well. Add 2 tbs of the sourdough starter to the hot soup and stir occasionally to thicken the soup and to heat the meats.

Serve in large bowls with a wedge of lemon to be squeezed into the soup at the table and Harissa paste, if desired.

Harissa Paste: Drain the chile peppers, discarding the water, and add all the ingredients except the olive oil to a small spice mill and pur‚e. Put the pur‚e in a jar and float some olive oil on the surface. Refrigerate; it will keep well for 2-3 weeks. Use sparingly.

Submitted By DIANE LAZARUS On 10-17-95

Related recipes