Recipe
Mercimek çorbası
Turkey's everyday red lentil soup - velvety, gently spiced with cumin and finished with fresh lemon at the table. On the stove in about half an hour.
Mercimek çorbası takes about 35 minutes and makes 4 servings. Each serving has 326 kcal.
- Preparation
- 10 minutes
- Cooking
- 25 minutes
- Total time
- 35 minutes
- Servings
- 4
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 326 kcal
- Protein
- 14.8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 43 g
- Fat
- 10.5 g
Ingredients
- Red lentils200 g
- Onion1 pc
- Carrot1 pc
- Potatoes1 pc
- Olive oil3 tbsp
- Tomato paste1 tbsp
- Ground cumin1 tsp
- Vegetable stock1200 ml
- Lemon1 pc
- Salt1 pinch
Instructions
- 1
Finely chop the onion and dice the carrot and potato into small cubes.
- 2
Sweat the vegetables in olive oil over medium heat until the onion turns translucent, about 5 minutes.
- 3
Stir in the tomato paste and cumin and let them toast for a minute.
- 4
Add the rinsed lentils and the stock. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring regularly so the lentils don't catch on the bottom.
Tip: Red lentils sink and stick as they soften - run the spoon across the bottom of the pot each time you stir.
- 5
Blend the soup directly in the pot with a stick blender until completely smooth.
Tip: Too thick? Loosen it with hot water, a splash at a time - the soup should pour like heavy cream.
- 6
Season with salt and serve hot, with lemon wedges to squeeze in at the table.
Cooking methods
On the stove
A heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat is all you need. Keep the simmer gentle - big bubbles mean lentils are sticking underneath. If your burner runs hot, pull the pot half off it.
On induction
Sweat the vegetables on level 5, then simmer the lentils on 3–4. Induction holds a steady low simmer well, but the pot base heats fast - stir along the bottom, not just the surface.
Over an open fire
Easily done over a fire: set the pot over moderate embers, not flames, and stir more often since the heat is uneven. A cast-iron Dutch oven works perfectly.
Recipe questions
- How long does this recipe take?
- Plan for about 35 minutes from start to finish.
- How many servings does this recipe make?
- This recipe makes 4 servings.
- Can I cook this recipe on induction?
- Yes. Sweat the vegetables on level 5, then simmer the lentils on 3–4. Induction holds a steady low simmer well, but the pot base heats fast - stir along the bottom, not just the surface.
- Can I cook this recipe over an open fire?
- Yes. Easily done over a fire: set the pot over moderate embers, not flames, and stir more often since the heat is uneven. A cast-iron Dutch oven works perfectly.
- Which dietary preferences does this recipe support?
- This recipe is tagged: vegetarian, vegan, glutenFree.
In the app
Cooking the way it should feel
One step on screen, a timer that keeps going, and clear progress until the dish is done.
