Mercimek Çorbası is one of the most common soups in Turkey. It is eaten across the whole country, at home and in restaurants.It is made from red lentils, onion, and simple spices. The texture is smooth and creamy, even without cream. It is warm, comforting, and very filling. In Turkey, it is often served with lemon wedges and sometimes a spoon of melted butter with paprika on top. This version keeps the traditional flavor and is easy to cook at home.
😌 Difficulty: Easy
⏱️ Preparation time: 10 minutes
🔥 Cooking time: 25 minutes
⏳ Total time: 35 minutes
👥 Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 250 g red lentils
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 small carrot, chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 liter vegetable broth
- Salt
- Black pepper
For serving:
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Rinse the red lentils under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add carrot and cook 2 minutes more.
- Stir in tomato paste, cumin, and paprika. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Add lentils and vegetable broth. The liquid should cover everything well. If needed, add a little water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until lentils are very soft.
- Blend the soup with a hand blender until smooth.
- Add salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with a squeeze of lemon and fresh bread on the side.
SpinThatCuisine Tip 💡
If the soup becomes too thick after blending, add a small amount of hot water and stir. The traditional texture should be smooth and pourable, not heavy.