Mercimek Çorbası Turkish Lentil Soup Food

TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP RECIPE (MERCIMEK CORBASI)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat.
• Saute onion until golden. Add tomato paste and cook for a minute.
• Add in carrots and cook for a couple of minutes.
• To the onion and carrot, add the red lentils, salt, pepper, cumin, Aleppo pepper and black pepper. Stir well and cook for a minute.
• Pour in the water and bring the soup to simmer. Cook covered on medium heat for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 10 minutes until the lentils are completely cooked.
• Blend the soup in the blender or using an immersion blender until it's creamy and smooth.
• Serve warm with a squeeze of lemon.

TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP (KIRMIZI MERCIMEK ÇORBASI)

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 10 to 12 cups of water; add lentils, 2 teaspoons salt, cover and reduce heat, letting simmer for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat another pot, over medium heat, and add onions, cover with olive oil, and 1 teaspoon salt; once it begins to sizzle, reduce heat to low and cover for about 5 minutes.
• To the second pot, add bulgur, pepper, cayenne, and cumin; stir until lightly browned.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, and 4 cups chicken broth; bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
• Pour the contents of the second pot into the large soup pot with the lentils; cover and simmer until the bulgur and the lentils are soft, about an additional 40 minutes.
• You may add additional water if you like a thinner soup (as we do).
• Stir in lemon juice or vinegar; serve a dollop of yogurt with each serving, if desired.