SoupMain Course

Mercimek Corba

Name: Mercimek Corba
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: turkish
Ingredients: 200 g red lentil rinsed; 1 pcs yellow onion chopped; 1 pcs carrot chopped; 1 pcs potato chopped; 2 clove garlic minced; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 6 cup vegetable broth; 1 tsp dried mint; 1 tsp paprika; 0.5 tsp cumin; 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground; 1 tsp salt; 2 tbsp olive oil; 0.5 pcs lemon juiced; 0.5 tsp red pepper flake

This comforting Turkish lentil soup is a staple, known for its vibrant color and rich, earthy flavor. Made with red lentils, vegetables, and a simple spice blend, it's both nourishing and satisfying. A squeeze of fresh lemon and a drizzle of chili-infused oil elevate this classic dish.

An original recipe by Forkin

Total time: 45 min
Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Per serving: 328 kcal

VeganVegetarianGluten-free

Mise en place

Ingredients

200 gred lentil, rinsed
1 pcsyellow onion, chopped
1 pcscarrot, chopped
1 pcspotato, chopped
2 clovegarlic, minced
1 tbsptomato paste
6 cupvegetable broth
1 tspdried mint
1 tsppaprika
0.5 tspcumin
0.5 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
1 tspsalt
2 tbspolive oil

garnish

0.5 pcslemon, juiced
0.5 tspred pepper flake

Equipment

lemon juicer · small pan · large pot · cutting board · knife · immersion blender

The method

Step by step

1
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
About 1 min
2
Add onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
About 7 min
3
Stir in carrot, potato, and garlic, cooking for another 3 minutes until fragrant.
About 3 min
4
Add tomato paste, dried mint, paprika, cumin, black pepper, and salt. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
About 1 min
Cook’s note: Cooking the tomato paste and spices briefly helps to deepen their flavor.
5
Pour in vegetable broth and add rinsed red lentils. Bring the mixture to a boil.
About 5 min
6
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are very tender.
About 25 min
Cook’s note: Stir occasionally to prevent lentils from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
7
Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth, or carefully transfer to a regular blender and blend in batches.
About 2 min
Cook’s note: If using a regular blender, be careful not to overfill and hold the lid firmly with a towel to prevent hot splashes.
8
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If the soup is too thick, add a little more hot water or broth to reach desired consistency.
About 1 min
9
For the garnish, heat a small amount of olive oil in a pan over low heat. Add red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant (do not burn).
About 1 min
Cook’s note: This step is optional but adds a lovely visual and flavor boost.
10
Serve the soup hot, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a drizzle of the chili-infused oil on top.

Per serving

Nutrition

68%Score

Calories: 327.8kcal
Protein: 15.9g
Carbs: 48.8g
Fat: 8.3g
Fibre: 8.2g
Sugar: 5.7g

Estimated from the recipe’s ingredient quantities. Values can vary with brands and substitutions.

Keep it good

Storage

Store leftover Mercimek Corba in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Reheating

Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or broth if it has thickened too much, or in the microwave.