Kirmizi Mercimek Çorbası Turkish Red Lentil Soup Recipes

RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tbsp. butter on your medium pot, add your one chopped onion and saute until tender.
• Add 1/2 tbsp. tomato paste to the onions and saute a little more
• Add 1 cup of red lentil, 1 chopped potato, 1 chopped carrot to your pot. Pour 4 cups of water on, cover a lid on your pot and cook your soup until the vegetables soften 30-40 minutes.
• When the soup is cooked, turn off your heat and stir your soup with your hand blender until it gets very smooth.
• Add your 1 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. ground red pepper, 1/2 tsp. ground cumin, salt and stir until combined. At this point you can add some more water (about 1/2 - 1 cup) of water if you want the consistency of your soup thinner.
• Make your butter sauce in another sauce pan and pour onto your red lentil soup.

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.