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Healthy Turkish Red Lentil Soup

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A quick, budget-friendly, and nourishing Turkish red lentil soup with warm spices and a bright touch of lemon juice. Perfect for cozy dinners and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (200g) red lentils (split red lentils recommended)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 4 cups (1 liter) vegetable broth or water
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the lentils under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion and diced carrot and cook for 5–6 minutes until softened and translucent, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add minced garlic, ground cumin, and smoked paprika. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Stir in tomato paste and combine well to deepen the flavor.
  5. Add rinsed lentils and vegetable broth or water. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits.
  6. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 25 minutes until lentils are soft and breaking down.
  7. Adjust consistency by adding more water or broth if needed. For a smoother texture, optionally pulse with an immersion blender, leaving some texture if preferred.
  8. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice to brighten and balance flavors.
  9. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, starting with about 1 teaspoon salt.
  10. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Toast spices with aromatics to release oils and deepen flavor. Rinse lentils to avoid a gluey texture. Add lemon juice off heat to prevent toughening lentils. Simmer time can be adjusted for desired thickness. Prepping vegetables ahead saves time. Soup can be frozen and reheated gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: Turkish red lentil soup, healthy lentil soup, easy lentil soup, vegan soup, gluten-free soup, budget-friendly soup, comfort food

Find it online: https://merrymorsel.com/healthy-turkish-red-lentil-soup-recipe-easy-budget-friendly-comfort-food/