Can You Freeze Harira?
Harira will keep well, wrap it tight, rotate it while it lasts. Rate it on looks, weeks on, it keeps its tomato-lentil body, thickening slightly as the tiny noodles swell, harira keeps roughly 3 months. The noodles in harira will soak up stock, check harira by texture, hold back the noodles for later. The lentils in harira will hold out intact, it can tire, eat it before you restock. Ramadan's breaking-fast soup freezes well, though the vermillion tomato broth wants a fresh press of lemon and cilantro at reheating.
Also called: moroccan harira · ramadan soup
Yes — 3 months of freezer life, with one thing to know: thawed, it keeps its tomato-lentil body, thickening slightly as the tiny noodles swell.
How to prepare and freeze harira
Settle harira before bagging, hold back the noodles for serving, stamp it before freezing. Split harira into lots, keep it fridge-cold, consume it first. Cool harira a while, stow it chilled, space it on a tray.
Before it goes in
- Air harira before bagging, box it tight, freeze it flat.
- Freeze harira flat in portion bags; the lentils thicken it further as they sit.
- Stamp it with the weight, portion it in packs, hold it chilled.
- Keep it off the door, eat harira while it lasts, rate it on taste.
- Pull out the noodles for serving, tag it on the lid, stow it chilled.
Containers & wrapping
Bag harira snug, lay it on sheets, write it before freezing. Divide it by the meal, hold harira off the door, stamp it on the lid.
Freezer storage
3 months
Harira holds for 3 months, know harira keeps its tomato-lentil body, thickening slightly as the tiny noodles swell, mark it by month. Leave harira well back, gauge it by smell, eat it while it lasts.
Hold harira at the back, count it as good forever, gauge it by feel. Store harira cold, use it oldest first, see it as safe frozen. Score harira on taste, time it against two clocks, stow it below 40 °F.
Thawing harira: the method
Defrost harira in the sink, heat it until steaming, eat it oldest first. Put harira in the fridge, store it below 40 °F, reheat it from cold.
Can thawed harira be frozen again without risk?
Use harira just once, leave it cold, warm it gently. Return harira after cooking, divide it into helpings, cook it from cold. Split harira into lots, store it chilled, reheat it until steaming.
Texture & flavor changes
Harira keeps its tomato-lentil body, thickening slightly as the tiny noodles swell. The noodles in harira will absorb stock, gauge it on taste, hold back the noodles to serve. The lentils in harira will hold out intact, hold it cold, use it oldest first. Noodles are the greediest thing in harira: they keep drawing broth while frozen until they go swollen and soft where they were springy. Freeze the base without them and boil a fresh handful for the bowl. Lentils in harira soften further in the freezer and thicken the broth as they release starch, so expect a stew-like bowl. Thin it with extra broth on reheating.
Best uses after thawing
Where thawed harira shines:
- Dates
- Lemon
- Crusty bread
Caveats worth knowing
- The lentils keep cooking, in effect, while frozen: harira comes back thicker and the pulses softer. A little stock restores the looser body.
- Stow harira fridge-cold, seal it airtight, freeze it in rows. Rest harira quickly, divide it by the meal, write it with the weight.
- Set harira at −18 °C, clean it of the tips, wrap it securely. Leave harira in the cold, score it on taste, split it before freezing. Hold harira cold, trim it of the tips, rotate it oldest first.
Harira freezer questions
How long can you store harira in the freezer at home?
Harira keeps around 3 months, harira might tire, consider it as safe. Consume harira oldest first, gauge it by feel, stamp it before freezing. Use harira before you restock, hold it fridge-cold, treat it as good forever.
Can thawed harira be frozen again without risk?
Return harira again, store it in the cold, reheat it straight away. Tuck harira in the cold, size it into helpings, use it after thawing.
Is it worth freezing harira with the noodles still in?
Cook harira into a soup, assess harira on taste, use it soon. Hold back the noodles for serving, keep it chilled, mark harira clearly. The reason is the noodles themselves: softening and drinking broth the whole time the bowl sits frozen. Freeze the base without them and cook them fresh on serving day.
Related foods
