Harira: Lamb and Lentil Stew

Finite Cellars Wine pairing: 2024 RPG Pinot Noir

Recipe Origin: Toro Bravo: Stories. Recipes. No Bull.

Scale of difficulty: Steph can make this, lot of ingredients but easy assembly (5/10)

This feel good recipe is a winter staple in our house and perfect for a cold, cloudy day. Harira is a Moroccan Berber stew with lamb, lentils, chick peas, and a ton of warm spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger. We love to eat this with pita or fresh bakery bread and topped with crème fraîche. For wine, this dish pairs well with RPG Pinot Noir to bring out the earthiness of the lamb and lentils. But the fresh bright red fruit of our Gemini Pinot Noir would also compliment the dish well. Taste both and tell us what you prefer!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium shallot finely, chopped
2 tbsp parsley, chopped
2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
1/2 tbsp turmeric
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp paprika
1 healthy pinch of Spanish saffron
1 onion, diced
1.5 lbs. ground lamb
2 quarts chicken stock
1-15 oz can of chickpeas, drained (or 2 cups cooked reconstituted)
2 cups brown lentils
1 lemon, juiced
Crème fraîche and finely chopped preserved lemon for garnish (optional)

Steps:

1) In a large pot sauté shallots, parsley, cilantro in olive oil until shallots are clear.

2) Add ginger, tumeric, cinnamon, paprika, and saffron and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.

3) Add onion and lamb, cool until lamb is cooked through.

4) Add chicken stock, chick peas, lentils and bring to simmer. Let stew for about an hour, stirring occasionally.

5) Once finished cooking, stir in lemon juice and preserved lemon. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.

6) Serve in bowl topped with crème fraîche, a side of warm pita bread and our RPG Pinot Noir.