40-Minute Turkish Red Lentil Soup Recipe You’ll Crave
Warm up with a bowl of this delightful 40-Minute Turkish Red Lentil Soup, known as mercimek çorbası. This comforting and nutritious soup is perfect for any occasion—be it a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy weekend meal. Made with wholesome red lentils, fresh vegetables, and aromatic spices, each spoonful is bursting with flavor and goodness. Plus, the recipe’s simplicity allows you to whip it up in just 40 minutes! Enjoy it on its own or pair it with crusty bread for a satisfying meal that everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Serves approximately 4
- Category: Main
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Turkish
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup red lentils
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 potato, diced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges for garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the red lentils under cold water until clear. Drain well.
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until soft (3-4 minutes). Stir in diced carrot and potato; cook for another 5 minutes.
- Mix in tomato paste, ground cumin, and paprika; cook for an additional minute.
- Add rinsed lentils and vegetable broth, bringing it to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for about 25 minutes until lentils are tender.
- Blend the soup until smooth using an immersion blender or traditional blender (allow steam to escape).
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving hot with lemon wedges and parsley.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg