Step 2

Rinse meat well in warm water. Place in a large pot with 12 cups of water, cilantro stems and roots. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cook on medium-low heat until the meat is tender, about 1½ hours.

Step 3

Meanwhile, grind spices and cut vegetables into small pieces. Grind rice and quinoa to a powder in a mortar or spice grinder.

Step 4

Remove cilantro stems and roots when the meat is tender. Add the spices and vegetables; continue cooking.

Step 5

Place the ground rice and quinoa in a bowl with the tomato paste and enough water to make a thick liquid. Pour the mixture into the soup. Cook until the vegetables are almost falling apart and the soup starts to thicken, about 20-30 more minutes. If the soup is still too thin, you can purée some of it (a cup or two) with a stick blender.

Step 6

Remove the pieces of meat and finely shred using two forks. Return the meat to the pot. Add salt, nutmeg, and pepper generously. Top off with lemon juice, chopped cilantro and parsley. Serve with dates.