Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea and Noodle Soup | Everyday Dorie

The Moroccan-spiced chickpea and noodle soup, according to Dorie in Everyday Dorie is a traditional stew/ soup closely associated with Ramadan. Thick and comforting, it’s fitting for breaking the day’s fast. I have very little experience regarding the religious aspect of the tradition, but have a lot more to say about the unique spice mix. Its exotic and fragrant nature goes to the heart of this soup, as well as the most loved Moroccan tagine dishes.

Dorie’s Moroccan spice mix includes ginger (3 1/2 tbsp), turmeric (1 1/2 tsp), cinnamon (1 1/2 tsp), cumin (3/4 tsp), cayenne pepper (1/4 tsp), a pinch of saffron, and salt (1 tbsp) and pepper (1 1/2 tsp). I substitute fresh ginger for ground ginger. By and large, its sharp pungent note is front and center. (In many ways, this spice mix reminds me of ras-el-hanout which has a stronger flavor with the additional spices of allspice and clove.) I like the spice mix so much that I bottle it (without the fresh ginger, salt and pepper) in a jar and labeled it Moroccan for future use. With that, I can conveniently punch up the flavor in vegetable soups and tagine-style stews.

Equally important is to build a flavorful soup base. Over a medium-low heat, sweat onions, garlic and celery for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are softened. Then add the spices. At that point, the aroma in the kitchen spells something exotic. Moroccan? I don’t know — until such time I can make a trip to Marrakesh or Casablanca to confirm.

The Moroccan-spiced soup is as much stew as soup due to all the add-ins. It gets help to build substance from loads of red lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes and broken strands of thin noodles.

Just a word of caution: Cook the noodles separately from the soup. Cook them together, and you won’t have any soup to serve. Noodles are greedy sopper-uppers and have to be kept in check.

Dorie Greenspan

If that’s not enough, I put in the optional meatballs. Savoring this remarkable soup by the table, I can’t stop associating the Moroccan soup/ stew with the party atmosphere — that does not want to end.