Soups Middle Eastern & Turkish
Mercimek çorbası, Turkish red lentil soup
The red lentil soup served everywhere in Turkey, velvety, spiced with cumin, and brightened with lemon.
Mercimek çorbası is the everyday soup in Turkey: you can find it in every lokanta, served with a lemon wedge and bread. Red lentils break down as they cook, creating a velvety texture without any cream. A paprika-infused oil drizzled on top at the last minute makes it irresistible.
VeganGluten-freeDairy-freeHalal
Step-by-step method
0 / 4 steps done-
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot and sauté the onion for 5 minutes until soft. Add the carrot, potato, tomato paste, and cumin, and stir for 1 minute.
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Add the rinsed lentils and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender.
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Blend the soup until very smooth. Season with salt and pepper, and thin with a little water if it is too thick.
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Just before serving, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil with the paprika for 30 seconds and drizzle it over the soup. Serve with lemon wedges and chopped mint.
Nutrition 300 kcal
of which sugars 5 g • of which saturated 1,3 g
Per serving, approximate values.
Allergens
None of the main allergens we track.
Always check the labels of the products you buy.
Tips and variations
- Spicier: replace the paprika with Aleppo pepper (pul biber).
- With dried mint: let it sizzle for 10 seconds in the paprika oil before drizzling it over the soup.
- With butter: use butter instead of oil for a richer version (it will no longer be vegan).
Storing and reheating
Keeps for 4 days in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer. It thickens as it cools: thin it out with a little water or broth when reheating.
Equipment
Large pot, immersion blender
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Questions
Do you need to soak the red lentils?
No, a simple rinse is enough. They cook in 20 to 25 minutes and break down on their own.
Can you make it without a blender?
Yes: whisk vigorously at the end of cooking. Red lentils are so soft that the soup becomes almost smooth.
Cook it with the Mescola app
A timer for every step, servings for your household, and the missing ingredients sent to your grocery list.
Coming soon on iOS and Android
