Mercimek çorbası is a beloved Turkish soup made with red lentils, chicken stock, onions, and carrots. It is often seasoned with salt, pepper, cumin, or paprika. Easy to prepare, filling, and warming, the soup is consumed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in rural parts of Turkey, especially in local eateries known as lokantas.
Receipe
Ingredients:
Olive oil
Red lentils
Onion
Carrot
Tomato paste
Salt, cumin, Aleppo Pepper and black pepper
Heat olive oil in a pot and saute onion until golden.
Add in tomato paste and cook for a minute.
Add in chopped carrots and cook for a few minutes.
Next, add the red lentils and spices. Stir well and add water.
Bring to simmer and cook covered for about 20 minutes. Uncover and cook for another 10 minutes until the lentils are fully cooked.
Blend the soup in blender or use an immersion blender.
Serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon. ENJOY!