Chorba Hamra bel Frik (Algerian Lamb, Tomato, and Freekeh Soup)
An Algerian dinner. Ready in about 1 hour 10 minutes. Difficulty: medium.
- 25 minPrep (about)
- 45 minCook (about)
- 1 hr 10 minTotal time
- 4Servings
- MediumDifficulty
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Join the waitlist Not nowIngredients
Main ingredient
- 18 oz lamb Shopping tip: Lamb shoulder, cut in cubes.
Fresh & other
- 1 ½ cups freekeh
- 2 onions
- 2 bunches cilantro Shopping tip: Fresh cilantro (UK: coriander). Use the leaves and soft stems.
- 2 bunches mint Shopping tip: Fresh mint leaves.
- 2 celery
- 21 oz chickpeas
- 6 cups water
- 2 zucchinis
- 2 carrots
- 1 ½ tbsp tomato paste Shopping tip: Tomato paste (UK: tomato purée), in a small can or tube.
- 5 tomatoes Shopping tip: Fresh or canned both work (14.5 oz can of diced = about 4 tomatoes).
- 2 potatoes
Sauces & oils
- ¼ cup + 1 ½ tsp vegetable oil
Spices & seasonings (4): black pepper, paprika, ground cinnamon, salt
- 1 ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 ½ tsp paprika
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- To taste salt
How to make it
Steps in our own plain words.
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Place freekeh in a small bowl.
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Cover with cold water.
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Set aside.
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Mix salt, cinnamon, paprika, black pepper, onion and lamb in a pot.
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Stir in celery stalk, ¾ the mint, ¾ the cilantro and oil until mixed.
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Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
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Stir in chickpeas.
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Pour in enough water to cover.
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Return to a simmer.
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Stir in zucchini, carrot, and tomato paste.
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Set a steamer over the pot.
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Add tomatoes.
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Cover and steam tomatoes till soft, about 5 minutes.
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Crush tomatoes using wooden spoon, so pulp drips into soup.
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Remove your steamer and discard leftover tomato peels.
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Add potato to soup and enough water to cover.
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Simmer till potato is soft, about 10 minutes.
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Drain freekeh.
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Add to soup.
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Simmer until soft, about 15 minutes.
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Remove celery stalk and discard.
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Sprinkle soup with rest of the ¾ cilantro and rest of the ¾ mint before serving.
On the side: Crusty bread
A side we added to round out the meal. It is not part of the original recipe.
How to make it (5 min)
- Slice the bread. Warm it in the oven for 5 minutes if you like.
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Join the waitlistRecipe from TheMealDB, adapted from the original. Steps rewritten in our own words. Times are estimates.