tuesday morning in marrakech

Tuesday morning in Marrakech.

The plan was to leave on my bike early in the morning, to visit the new Yves Saint Laurent museum, on this pre-cool crochet workshop day. But I woke up late and took it easy.

Once I arrived at Musee Yves Saint Laurent there was already a very long queue at the entrance, so I decided to have a drink on the terrace of 33 Majorelle instead, which was also wonderful and after a while I cycled back to the medina.

On the way back I saw the snowy Atlas mountains for the first time, which was breathtakingly beautiful!! I can hardly wait to go to the mountains in a few days. It was quite difficult to take a nice picture of the view, in the middle of the busy traffic.

I cycled through the park next to the Koutoubia Mosque and along the Jemaa el Fna square, where it's always a hive of activity, but once I drove into the alley to Chambres d'Amis it was wonderfully green and quiet again.

Now it's time for a siesta at the plunge pool on the roof...

harira habit

Having a cup of harira soup on the Jemaa el Fna square, is my fixed habit when I visit Marrakech. (we like stall #75)

Perfect soup weather today, so we are having vegetarian harira soup tonight!

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped into cubes
5 large ripe tomatoes with skin removed, seeded and chopped into cubes
1/2 cup of lentils
1 cup of chickpeas (preferably bought dried and soaked overnight. The 1 cup measurement should be the soaked version)
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons cumin powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon of Moroccan saffron
1/2 cup each of fresh chopped parsley (flat leaf) and coriander
1/4 cup rice
salt and pepper
1/2 lemon


-Take a large soup pot and add the olive oil, onion, fresh herbs, lentils and spices and 7 or 8 cups of water and stir over high heat until the pot is brought to a boil. Include the chickpeas if you have soaked them overnight. If you are using canned chickpeas, you’ll add them later.

-Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. If you are using canned chickpeas, add them after the 30 minute simmer is up.

-Add the tomatoes and another cup of water, as well as salt and pepper.

-Raise the heat again and when your soup is back to a boil, add the rice. Lower heat once more to a simmer for another 30 minutes.

-Serve with fresh parsley and a bit of lemon juice

Bon appetit!

(countless recipes to be found, in all possible variations)

Harira literally means mixture. The word is also used as an expression; Harira! what a mess!