Mercimek Corbasi (Red Lentil Soup)

This traditional Turkish lentil soup recipe, made with red lentils and spices, is both comforting and flavorful. Ready in under an hour, this bright orange mercimek corbasi is best served with a variety of tasty garnishes.

Preparation time: 15 min


Cooking time: 35 min


Resting time: N/A


Total time: 50 min


Serves: 6

Ingredients:

- 1 to 2 lemons, juiced, to taste


- 1 teaspoon of salt, or to taste


- 2 tablespoons of tatli biber salçasi (Turkish sweet pepper paste)


- 1 teaspoon dried oregano


- 1 teaspoon ground cumin


- 4 cloves of garlic, minced or crushed


- 1 carrot, finely diced


- 1 celery rib, finely diced


- 1 large yellow onion, finely diced (approximately 1 1/4 cups)


- 3 tablespoons of olive oil


- 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, or to taste


- 1 1/2 cups (8.8oz/250g) of dried red lentils


- 2 liters (8 1/2 cups) of vegetable stock

Method:

- In a large pot (4 quarts or larger), heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes, then add the celery, carrot, and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.


- Next, add the cumin and oregano, stirring the spices into the vegetable mixture. Add the tatli biber salçasi and stir until evenly distributed.


- Add the lentils to the pot, stirring to distribute evenly, then pour in the vegetable stock. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let the soup simmer until the lentils and vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.


- Remove the pot from the heat and use an immersion blender to purée the soup, or purée it in batches in a blender with the lid cracked. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.


- For the pul biber butter drizzle, heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and cook until it begins to turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 2 teaspoons of pul biber.


- Serve the soup hot.

Notes:


To enhance the flavors of the lentil soup, consider adding a dollop of Greek yogurt or a sprinkle of chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or mint before serving. These additions can add a refreshing contrast and elevate the overall taste of the dish.

Nutritional Info:


Calories: 343


Carbs: 40g


Protein 9g


Fat 19g . . . . Click to see recipe.
#Recipe #Chef #Foodie #Dinner #european #Healthy #lentils #lunch #snack #Snacks #Soup #Turkish #Vegetarian
https://ispychef.com/mercimek-corbasi-red-lentil-soup/