Easy Turkish Lentil Soup

Easy Turkish Lentil Soup  - This hearty Turkish Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbası) is light, healthy and full of flavour. This is one of the first recipes I made for the blog and also a recipe that I was reminded of a couple of years later on a Naturopathy course.

Easy Turkish Lentil Soup

I love this Turkish Lentil Soup. It is so easy to make and feels light on the stomach too.

You only need a few spices and other basic ingredients in this recipe.

The best bit? It is ready to eat in under 30 minutes.

Also.. It doesn't feel heavy like some soups.

It doesn't hit your stomach, then clunk down to the bottom of it rendering you useless for the next couple of hours.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need:

Olive Oil - Nothing too strong flavoured.

Red Lentils and Bulgur Wheat - Both cook quickly and make for a nice thick soup.

Vegetable or Chicken Stock - Or Water.

Tomato Puree - Or Turkish Sweet Red Pepper Paste. Optional - not traditional.

Onions - Caramelised onions make the base of this Soup.

Herbs and Spices - Garlic, Ground Cumin, Smoked Paprika or Aleppo Pepper, Dry Mint, Chilli Flakes, Salt and Pepper.

The Garlic, Paprika, Chilli Flakes are Optional - not traditional.

Lemon Juice - Fresh, zingy Lemon Juice brings the whole soup together.

How to make it

Wash the Lentils and Bulgur Wheat and then boil in stock or Water for 25 - 30 minutes. Topping up when needed.

Skim off any foam.

Add Oil to a pot.

Once hot, add Onions and Garlic. Cook on low for 15 - 20 minutes.

Add Cumin, Paprika, Chilli Flakes, Salt and Pepper, Tomato Puree and Mint. Cook for 2 minutes.

Add the boiled Lentils/Bulgur Wheat.

Cook for 5 minutes.

At this stage you can blend the soup or leave it as it is.

Stir in the Lemon Juice.

Variations

Add a Chilli Oil.

Many Turkish Recipes are topped with a Chilli Oil. Such as Turkish Cilbir – Poached Eggs in Yoghurt or Manti Recipe.

To make it, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a pan and add 1 tsp of Aleppo Chilli. Stir to combine and pour over the top of the Soup.

You can use half Rice and half Bulgur Wheat in this Recipe.

Storage

5 from 2 votes

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Easy Turkish Lentil Soup

Easy Turkish Lentil Soup  - This hearty Turkish Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbası) is light, healthy and full of flavour. This is one of the first recipes I made for the blog and also a recipe that I was reminded of a couple of years later on a Naturopathy course.

Course Lunch, Starters

Cuisine Turkish

Keyword TUrkish lentil soup

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 6

Calories 264 kcal

Author Safira

Ingredients

Soup

• 300 g Red Lentils
• 100 g Bulgar Wheat
• 3 l Veg/Chicken Stock or Water
• 3 tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Onions Diced
• 6 cloves Garlic Crushed, Optional
• 1 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika or Aleppo Pepper, Optional
• ¼ tsp Chilli Flakes Optional
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tbsp Tomato Puree or Turkish Sweet Pepper Paste
• ½ tsp Dry Mint
• 3 tbsp Lemon Juice

Instructions

1. Wash the Lentils and Bulgur Wheat and then boil in stock or Water for 25 - 30 minutes. Topping up when needed. Skim off any foam.

2. Add Oil to a pot.

3. Once hot, add Onions and Garlic. Cook on low for 15 - 20 minutes.

4. Add Cumin, Paprika, Chilli Flakes, Salt and Pepper, Tomato Puree and Mint. Cook for 2 minutes.

5. Add the boiled Lentils/Bulgur Wheat. Cook for 5 minutes.

6. At this stage you can blend the soup or leave it as it is. Stir in the Lemon Juice.

Recipe Notes

Variations

Add a Chilli Oil.

Many Turkish Recipes are topped with a Chilli Oil. Such as Turkish Cilbir – Poached Eggs in Yoghurt or Manti Recipe.

To make it, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a pan and add 1 tsp of Aleppo Chilli. Stir to combine and pour over the top of the Soup.

Storage

This Easy Turkish Lentil Soup will easily keep for 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.

 

It also freezes well for 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Turkish Lentil Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 264 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 5g

Sodium 9mg0%

Potassium 589mg17%

Carbohydrates 36g12%

Fiber 16g67%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 241IU5%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 47mg5%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.