Turkish red lentil soup called Mercimek Corbasi is an absolutely wonderful recipe. You will want to make this hearty and delicious recipe over and over again. I ate this countless times when I visited Turkey and loved it every time.
Please note that this page contains affiliate links in which I will earn a small commission however, it will in no way affect the price you pay. I thank you for your support!
It is a hearty soup with a creamy texture. It is typically served with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice as well as aleppo pepper flakes and some olive oil. It is definitely Turkey's most popular soup. You will love this Turkish lentil soup.
Red lentils are a staple of most Turkish kitchens. The creaminess of the soup comes because the soup is blended. It does not call for any cream in the recipe. You can use an immersion hand blender or just blend it by hand.
If you want a bit more flavor in your lentil soup recipe you could either add vegetable stock or chicken stock instead of water or a combination of all three. No fancy ingredients required.
I fell in love with aleppo pepper during my visit to Turkiye. You can find it here if you want to try the real thing,
This Turkish red lentil soup recipe can be served as a main course or as a starter. If serving as a starter, I would just serve a cup as opposed to a bowl of soup as it is filling and can easily be a complete meal as a main dish.
You can also make a double batch and freeze it for later. Although it is served and loved any time of year, this Turkish lentil soup recipe is a great option on a chilly day.
Red Lentil soup is popular in many places in the world, but I am certain you will love the Turkish version. It is now definitely one of my favorite recipes.
If you are looking for more authentic Turkish dishes like this traditional Turkish Lentil soup, be sure to check out the stuffed mussels recipe called midye dolma, you can serve the soup as a starter with a main course like manti, and Samsa milfoy Tatlisi, a wonderful easy to make dessert recipe to name a few.
If you would like to learn more about the wonderful country now called Turkiye, its traditions, food and culture be sure to check out "Our Journey to Turkiye"
Craving even more? Be sure to join the culinary and cultural journey around the world, so you don’t miss a thing, it’s free, You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook , Pinterest and youtube to follow along our journey.
Turkish Red Lentil Soup Recipe (Mercimek Corbasi)
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils rinsed and drained
- 1 Tablespoon long grain rice rinsed and drained
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 carrot peeled and cut into small pieces
- 1 medium potato peeled and cut into small pieces
- 5 cups water
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon aleppo red pepper flakes plus more for garnish
- 1/2 juice of lemon plus a few lemon wedges for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a heavy stock pot, add the olive oil, lentils, rice, onion, carrot, potato and water and bring to a boil.
- Once it has boiled skim off any froth that may arise.
- Reduce to simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally so the lentils do not stick to the bottom of the pan. Cook until the vegetables are tender and lentils are done.
- Using an immersion blender or a potato masher you should blend the lentils and vegetables together, unitl you get a creamy texture.
- Once, cooked add the lemon juice, butter, cumin and red pepper flakes plus salt and black pepper to taste, stir well.
- Ladle soup into individual bowls
- Serve with wedges of lemon, and red pepper flakes and olive oil for garnish.
- Enjoy with a nice piece of crusty bread.
Nutrition
The soup looks lovely! I appreciate the fact that the ingredients are mostly on hand and not so many. Look forward to making it. Thank you!
Thank you and it is one of my favorite soups! I love how it is creamy without the cream!