Red Lentil Soup – Turkish Style Recipe
🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
🍽️ Cook Time: 50 minutes
⏰ Total Time: 1 hour
Description: Dive into the flavors of Turkey with this hearty and wholesome Red Lentil Soup. Bursting with nutritious ingredients and rich spices, it’s a delightful dish perfect for any occasion.
🥣 Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 3/4 cups chopped onions
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 cup red lentils
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6 cups vegetable stock or water
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Cayenne pepper, to taste
- Croutons, for serving
- Fresh mint leaves, for garnish
🔪 Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onions, lentils, and chopped carrots to the saucepan.
- Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, allowing the vegetables to soften.
- Stir in the paprika and tomato paste, ensuring they are well combined with the vegetables.
- Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for a few more minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Gradually pour in the vegetable stock or water, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
- Simmer the soup uncovered until the lentils are very soft, which should take around 30 minutes.
- Once the lentils are soft, transfer the soup to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
- Return the pureed soup to the saucepan and add the milk and lemon juice to taste, adjusting the consistency and flavor as desired.
- Season the soup with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper according to your preference.
- Allow the soup to simmer for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to fully develop.
- Taste the soup again and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
- Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve with croutons on the side.
- Garnish each serving with fresh mint leaves for a burst of freshness.
🍲 Serving Suggestions:
- Enjoy this Red Lentil Soup – Turkish Style as a comforting meal on its own.
- Serve it alongside a crusty bread or a fresh salad for a complete and satisfying meal.
- Pair it with your favorite Turkish-inspired dishes for a culinary adventure.
👨🍳 Chef’s Tips:
- For a creamier texture, you can blend the soup until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper according to your preferred level of spiciness.
- Feel free to customize this recipe by adding other vegetables such as potatoes or spinach.
- Make a larger batch and freeze the leftovers for quick and convenient meals in the future.
Indulge in the warmth and flavor of Turkey with this comforting Red Lentil Soup. Perfectly seasoned and packed with wholesome ingredients, it’s sure to become a favorite in your recipe collection.
