True Moroccan Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped onions
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 cups water
• 1 cup small brown lentils or green lentil, small
• 1 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight
• 1 cup small white beans, soaked overnight
• 4 tomatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 2 teaspoons fresh medium grind black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or mild extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1. 1

   In a large soup pot, stew pot or dutch oven cook the chick peas and white beans seperately until just tender.

2. 2

   Using a smaller pot, cook the lentils for 20 minutes and drain the beans and lentils.

3. 3

   In the same pot, saute the onions, garlic*, ginger, paprika and cumin approximately 5 minutes in the oil. I use the olive oil for this one as the Moroccan home cooks who I know will allow this cooking of olive oil rarely and for this recipe.

4. 4

   Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white beans, tomatoes, carrots, pepper and cumin, black pepper and salt to taste. Our black pepper used in a teaspoon will impart some good spicy heat to the dish. Should your black pepper not do this then please add a bit more black pepper as we do not use cayenne here.

5. 5

   Bring to a boil for a 5 minutes and simmer 3/4 covered 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the beans and lentils are soft but not mushy.

6. 6

   I have seen mny similar recipes on the internet stating to puree some of the soup and return it to the pot. While this is a nice idea, most Moroccan homes do not have a blender and this soup is not intended to be made as such.

7. 7

   Prep. time does not include soaking and pre-cooking the beans.

8. 8

   * Omit the garlic if using for Ramadan.