Mercimek Recipes

MERCIMEK KOFTESI (LENTIL BALLS)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the lentils, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are soft and have absorbed most of the water, about 10 minutes. Stir in the bulgur and remove from the heat. Cover and set aside until the bulgur is very soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a small skillet over low heat, heat the oil and add the onion, sautéing until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato and pepper pastes and mix well. Remove from the heat and cool. Add cumin, crushed red pepper and black pepper. Season with salt to taste.
• Add the onion mixture to the lentil mixture and toss to mix. Add the scallions and parsley, mixing gently. Line a platter or individual serving plates with lettuce leaves. With dampened hands, form the lentil mixture into oval walnut-size balls, placing them on top of the lettuce. Serve immediately, or cover lightly and refrigerate up to one hour.

KIRMIZI MERCIMEK ÇORBASı | TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan with a lid, add the olive oil over a medium heat and add the onions - fry for a few minutes until soft (no need to brown)
• Add the garlic and celery and fry for another few minutes until just before the garlic starts to brown
• Add the red lentils and stir well for a few minutes to warm the lentils
• Add all the spices and combine well for a couple more minutes to wake up the spices
• Add the tinned chopped tomatoes and stir
• In a jug pour in the hot water and add the vegetable bouillon, then add to the saucepan carefully and stir well
• Once the soup starts to boil, simmer for around 25 minutes and cover until the lentils are cooked. Stir occasionally and add a few splashes of water if you see the soup is a little too thick
• After 20 minutes, season with a little salt and pepper to your tasting and add the lemon juice and stir, cook for a few more minutes covered
• Carefully remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside with the lid on for 10 minutes or so for the soup to cool slightly
• In a food processor, carefully transfer the soup using a spoon or ladle, and whizz up for 30 seconds at a time until the soup is creamy (If you see it's a little thick, add a few splashes of hot water and this will loosen it)
• Serve immediately or cover and cool then store in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Just make sure it is hot and cooked through when reheated.
• Enjoy with a dollop of Greek/Turkish yoghurt on top and some coriander leaves and enjoy with a side of warm bread to mop it all up!

TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP RECIPE (MERCIMEK CORBASI)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat.
• Saute onion until golden. Add tomato paste and cook for a minute.
• Add in carrots and cook for a couple of minutes.
• To the onion and carrot, add the red lentils, salt, pepper, cumin, Aleppo pepper and black pepper. Stir well and cook for a minute.
• Pour in the water and bring the soup to simmer. Cook covered on medium heat for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 10 minutes until the lentils are completely cooked.
• Blend the soup in the blender or using an immersion blender until it's creamy and smooth.
• Serve warm with a squeeze of lemon.

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.

MERCIMEK

Steps:

• PLACE THE LENTILS IN A STRAINER AND RINSE UNDER COLD WATER TO REMOVE EXCESS STARCH. RINSE UNTIL THE WATER RUNS CLEAR. PUT THE LENTILS IN A LARGE POT; ADD 6 CUPS WATER, ONION, CARROT, BOUILLON CUBES AND A TOUCH OF SALT. BRING TO BOIL, AND SKIM OFF ANY SCUM THAT RISES TO THE TOP. SIMMER UNTIL LENTILS ARE VERY SOFT, ALOST FALLING APART, ABOUT 1 HOUR, OR MORE AS NEEDED _____________________________________ FOR SAUCE: IN A SEPARATE SAUCEPAN, HEAT THE BUTTER WHISK IN THE FLOUR AND STIR VIGOROUSLY FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. DO NOT ALLOW THE FLOUR TO BURN. ADD THE TOMATO PASTE, GARLIC,DRIED MINT, RED PEPPER FLAKES, SALT AND PEPPER. SAUTE THE MIXTURE FOR 2 TO 3 MINUTES, THEN STIR IN THE 2 CUPS WATER. ADD THIS MIXTURE TO THE LENTILS AND CONTINUE TO COOK, STIRRING, FOR SEVERAL MINUTES OVER MEDIUM HEAT. SERVE, GARNISHED WITH SLICES OF FRESH LEMON, TO BE SQUEEZED INTO THE SOUP.