Harira with Bread and Dates

Ingredients

Quantities are for one portion.

• 50 gdry brown lentils
• 1celery stalk, chopped
• 15 mlolive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1onion, chopped
• 1 tspcumin
• 50 gcanned diced tomatoes
• 50 gcanned chickpeas, rinsed
• 30 gdried dates
• 50 gflatbread

Method

1. Rinse the dry brown lentils and add them to a pot of water. Boil until half-cooked.
2. In a separate pan, heat the olive oil and sauté the chopped onion and celery until soft.
3. Transfer the softened vegetables to the pot with the lentils.
4. Add the canned diced tomatoes, rinsed chickpeas, cumin, salt, and pepper to the pot.
5. Simmer the soup until the lentils disintegrate slightly and thicken the broth. Use a spoon to crush some of the chickpeas against the side of the pot to thicken it further.
6. Warm the flatbread until soft and pliable.
7. Serve the thick, savory soup in a bowl alongside the warm bread and the sweet dried dates on the side to contrast the flavors.