Moroccan Pumpkin, Chickpea and Tomato Soup Recipe

Moroccan soup with chickpeas, pumpkin and tomatoes
Aparna Balasubramanian/Moment Open/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This satisfying vegetarian Moroccan soup with pumpkin and chickpeas is fragrant with Moroccan spices of saffron, ginger, cinnamon, and ras el hanout. A small amount of honey adds just a touch of sweetness—omit or increase the honey to suit your own family's tastes.

The soup will come together quickly with cooked or canned chickpeas. Moroccans traditionally prefer to use dried chickpeas, which will require soaking overnight and cooking ahead of time. If you also prefer the texture of home-cooked chickpeas over the canned, plan ahead so that you can soak, cook and freeze chickpeas to have on hand for this and other recipes. 

We like to garnish the soup with a few turns of freshly ground pepper and a little freshly grated nutmeg. Cayenne pepper might also be added.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (500 grams) fresh pumpkin, cut into 1/4-inch dice

  • 1 1/2 cups chickpeas, cooked or canned

  • 1 small bunch cilantro, tied into a bouquet

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or olive oil

  • 1 medium to large onion, chopped

  • 1 to 2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped

  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

  • 4 cups (1 liter) vegetable broth, or chicken broth

  • 2 to 3 teaspoons honey

  • 1 stick cinnamon

  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon ras el hanout

  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric

  • 1 pinch saffron

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 dash nutmeg, optional

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons cornstarch, for thickening, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. In a small stockpot, sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil over medium-low heat until tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.

  2. Add the pumpkin, chickpeas, tomato, cilantro, broth, honey, spices, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, partially covered, about 15 minutes, until the pumpkin is just tender. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and cilantro.

  3. If you wish to thicken the broth a bit, transfer several spoonfuls of broth to a bowl and allow it cool slightly. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of cornstarch to the cooled broth and stir until the mixture is smooth. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the soup and simmer for several more minutes, until the broth has thickened.

  4. Serve the soup hot or warm with a garnish of fresh cilantro and freshly ground pepper and nutmeg.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
257 Calories
9g Fat
39g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 257
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 893mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 31mg 153%
Calcium 86mg 7%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 921mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)