1 cup garbanzo beans
3 quarts water
1 onion — coarsely chopped
2 potatoes — scrubbed and diced
28 ounces canned whole tomatoes — chopped; w/liquid
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon powdered saffron
dash cayenne pepper 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice — optional
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Place the beans and water in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil, turn off the heat and let rest for 1 hour. Add the onion, bring to a boil again, cover and cook over medium heat for 3 hours. Add the remaining ingredients except lemon juice and cilantro. Cook for 1 more hour. Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro just before serving.