Moroccan Spiced Lentil & Chickpea Soup

You’ll love this incredible soup! It’s packed with flavour, spices, vegetables and pulses. Not only healthy, it’s absolutely delicious – you’ll make it again and again.

moroccan-spiced-lentil-chickpea-soup 1

I need to make a confession. I think I have finally done it – I’ve made not only the heartiest but also the tastiest soup I’ve ever made!

I know that’s a big and bold claim, but I honestly think I have nailed it with this Moroccan Spiced Lentil and Chickpea Soup.

As you know I absolutely love comfort food and this delicious warming bowl of goodness combines rich and wholesome lentils with one of my favourite ingredients–chickpeas… which is then completely coated in a lightly spiced tomato sauce turning it into one of my all-time favourite recipes.

This dish takes simple ingredients and turns them into the perfect combination of different flavours and textures. The base is created by using a combination of household spices (cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, smoked paprika and chilli) to create a real depth of smokey flavour that the whole family can enjoy and bulked out with earthy pulses and grains to keep you full and happy.

Cumin is actually one of my secret ingredients in a lot of dishes including chilli’s, curries and soups–it adds this almost bitter smokey flavour that other spices just can’t bring to the plate that adds layers of flavour and just completely transforms a dish.

Is it weird to have a love obsession with a spice?–because if it’s wrong, I don’t want to be right! But please don’t be scared about all the different spices that this recipe has. They perfectly balance each other out and means you’re able to easily adjust to your own heat and spice preference.

I absolutely love spicy food after travelling around the Middle East for many years, so I always add in an extra pinch or two when I make this dish. Also, skip a few of the scarier and more intense spices if you are making this for a family of little ones.

I remember making something similar to this dish every Sunday a few years ago to prepare for batching up, storing, and taking to work for lunches during the colder months. It meant I always had a super chunky, filling and nutritious lunch packed with nutrient-dense veggies and fibre packed pulses to help power through the afternoon. But don’t get the wrong idea.

This soup is definitely not like the rest. It’s a complete meal in one mouth-watering bowl. Because of including all the different vegetables and pulses, this dish can be eaten and enjoyed as a delicious lunch but can also be used for dinner as a simple winter warmer dish or enjoyed with the whole family.

I normally serve it with some quick and simple flatbreads (I have a quick step-by-step tutorial on how to make the best effortless flatbreads here) as they are the perfect vehicle for soaking up and scooping up all that gorgeously rich liquid and topped with a drizzle of tahini when serving in the evenings for an extra special hit of creaminess.

There is something very incredible that happens when the dressing melts into the warm soup and enhances all those rich and warming flavours in the bowl that you just have to try.

The recipe is super simple to create and because it’s cooked all in one pan, makes the washing up a breeze! I always make extra portions when creating this recipe because the flavours are even better the next day once they have developed and infuse all the wonderful components, plus it freezes and keeps really well, making it the perfect meal-prepping dish.

Just portion out and freeze in jars or individual portions and thaw overnight in the fridge–it can be kept in the freezer for a few weeks.

It’s also super adaptable, meaning you can use up any leftover veggies in the fridge or swap out for your favourite ingredients.

Swap out the chickpeas for butter beans or another white bean variant.
Use mung beans instead of red lentils for an earthier flavour but still super wholesome and nutritious dish
Add a swirl of coconut yoghurt or a drizzle of tahini dressing for extra creaminess and luxury.
Use tinned tomatoes if you don’t have any fresh, just reduce the amount of additional liquid needed.

If you can’t get hold of harissa paste, you can make your own, or use siracha or an alternative hot sauce.

If you like this recipe, why not give one of my other Moroccan inspired recipes a try? My ultra-special Moroccan inspired ‘fish’ balls with a Freekeh salad and rich tomato sauce is the perfect mid-week treat.

moroccan-spiced-lentil-chickpea-soup 1a

Moroccan Spiced Lentil & Chickpea Soup

You’ll love this incredible soup! It’s packed with flavour, spices, vegetables and pulses. Not only healthy, it’s absolutely delicious - you’ll make it again and again.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 27 minutes
4 servings
4.91 from 30 votes

Ingredients

For the soup

  • 1 large onion chopped roughly
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves sliced
  • 2 celery sticks chopped into small dice
  • 2 carrots chopped into small dice
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp chilli flakes–optional
  • 5 to matoes roughly sliced
  • 1 litre veg stock
  • 200 g red split lentils washed
  • 2 tbsp rose harissa or 1 tbsp harissa
  • 1 can chickpeas drained
  • 3 handfuls coriander chopped roughly
  • 1 tsp sea salt

For the tahini dressing

  • Juice 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp tahini
  • 3 –4 tbsp water
  • 1/2 sea salt
  • Twist black pepper

Toppings

  • Coriander

Instructions

  • In a large pan, add the olive oil and onions and cook on a medium heat for 7-8 minutes until soft and browning.
  • Add in the garlic, celery and carrot. Stir to combine and cook for a 2-3 minutes. Add the spices and stir until the veg is coated.
  • Now add the chopped tomatoes, allow them to soften a little. Next, add the stock, lentils and harissa. Simmer for 10 minutes covered, then remove the lid and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Add the chickpeas and coriander, stir to combine.
  • Season well.

To make the tahini dressing

  • Add all the ingredients to a mini chopper and blitz until creamy.

To serve

  • Drizzle with tahini dressing, coriander and chilli flakes.
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More Recipes with Lentils or Chickpeas

Discuss this Recipe with Niki
Rebel Recipes Website Blog Top 10 Healthy & Light 1a

77 Responses

  1. 5 stars
    Really tasty recipe! Thank you for sharing 🙂 I wanted to add a bit of contrasting texture, so put aside some of the chickpeas to fry in a few tspns of tandoori masala and tomato puree. Used these as a topper alongside the tahini dressing and coriander. Worked super well!

  2. 5 stars
    Yummy soup – deliciously warming on a slightly chilly and grey day, even if it is summer! Used a mix of black chickpeas and British Fava beans as had run out of ordinary chickpeas. Worked really well.

  3. 5 stars
    Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.

  4. 5 stars
    Hi,

    I made this recipe last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Though instead of putting coriander in I added spinach.

    I was wondering in you could tell me how many calories are there per serving.

    Thank you

  5. 5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! I’m a terrible cook but even I couldn’t mess this up. The recipe was very easy to follow, didn’t have to research anything at first or ask my mum

    It’s honestly so flavourful, delicious and comforting. I added sweet potato like the others and it’s so good.

    I will be making this more often.

    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

  6. Hi, this sounds delicious! Before I make it I just want to confirm that it’s coriander in the recipe or cilantro? Thank you!

  7. 5 stars
    This soup is so tasty and delicious. It has become a staple in our household. Thank you for sharing this recipe. Love It!!!

  8. 5 stars
    This recipe is absolutely delicious!! The flavors are incredible. Even my super picky sister liked it! I’m definitely making this again I’m literally in love– and it’s so easy to make!

  9. 5 stars
    Hello…. I rarely comment to anything…but this was necessary. This soup is fantastic. Not that it needed anything, but I threw a few red lentil pasta in that was made from another time, so delicious with the sauce. Thank you for the recipe…. I will definitely check out your other ones.

    1. Hi Nettie, thank you so much for your kind comments – I hope you have managed to find a few others that you love too – Niki xo

  10. 5 stars
    Wow – so glad I found this recipe! Made it for my carnivorous partner who said it was the best soup he’d ever had 🙂 I chopped up some dried apricots and sprinkled them on, don’t usually go for fruit with savoury but it really worked here. Thanks!

  11. 5 stars
    This is such a beautiful recipe! I will be making this again & again. My mother & I rated it 10/10. I found the tahini dressing was a bit thin initially but just added a little more tahini to thicken, it really made the dish like dressing on a salad. Thank you for sharing!

  12. 5 stars
    This would have to be the BEST soup recipe ever, I loved it, Thank you so much for sharing, it absolutely made my day.

      1. 5 stars
        I keep coming back to this recipe every time I want something warning and guaranteed delicious! So good every time, even with variations depending on what I have in. cheddar rather than tahini topping works well if I have an open pack

  13. 5 stars
    I was hesitant as I was making this but when all done it tasted amazing! Simple to follow recipe, very easy and tastes amazing like something my mum would cook on cold day! Thanks a million xx

  14. Hi do you use sweet smoked Spanish paprika or hot smoked Spanish paprika? I’ve only just discovered your fabulous blog, I’m going to look at your book on Amazon UK when I get a chance…Thanks

  15. 5 stars
    This is sooooooo good! I made it to give to a poorly friend and after tasting it, it nearly didn’t leave the kitchen but I’ll be making a vat full for myself tomorrow. A fabulous recipe Niki, thank you.

  16. 5 stars
    Fantastic recipe, huge hit with the family. I have been making it one a week for a couple of months now its a complete healthy meal i a bowl and cheap to make, bonas!!!

  17. 5 stars
    Adding a vegan recipe a week into our lives. This recipe was a perfect addition to our typical meals! Added sweet potatoes and replaced harissa (not available in our grocery store) with some Sriracha. Great flavor!

  18. 5 stars
    This is by far one of your best recipes!! It is so simple and so packed with flavour. I also added in some sweet potatoes that I needed to use up. A small bowl was so filling. ❤️❤️❤️It! x

  19. 5 stars
    Made the Morrocan spiced to.atoe soup for a friend who had just had a baby. She and her can’t are vegan and she absolutely loved it ( as did I). Thank you

    1. This looks SO yum and I’m definitely going to make some this weekend as we are currently on a bit of a tight budget so vegan meals Allee always great for that!

      Can I ask if the red lentils were dried and soaked prior or tinned? I seem to have a hit and miss experience of cooking with them so don’t want to make and have crunchy lentils! Haha.

      Thanks so much

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