You can’t have a Turkish kitchen without having red lentils in the pantry. And when it comes to Turkish soup recipes, homemade spicy Turkish red lentil soup is a favourite for us!
After the Fethiye summer season, we hit that time of year.
That time of year where the intense summer heat and haze suddenly holds up its hands, goes into retreat and gives way to cooler autumnal breezes and clear air.
We can feel the change in the temperature and take joy in the long autumnal shadows.
And, after a long summer, many of us bask in the more comfortable temperatures. Perhaps even being a little bit premature.
Turkish Red Lentil Soup – Kırmızı Mercimek Çorbası
But the time of year is irrelevant, really.
If you know Turkey, you’ll know that healthy soups of various flavours are on the menu in all local lokantas whatever the season and whatever the time of day.
At home, though, we like to feel that soup season is upon us.
And autumn, despite temperatures still being in the mid 20s, heralds soup making time for us.
Red Lentils Are A Staple
Our Turkish red lentil soup recipe is a favourite for us.
Red – and green – lentils are a staple of most Turkish kitchens.
And, since living in Turkey, our kitchen has been no different. They’re a comforting presence.
Mooching through the cupboards and wondering what to eat?
As long as the lentils are there and a few odds and ends, we can always rustle something up.
Green lentil soup and summer lentil salad use up our non-red variety, whilst the red lentils are often delved into for mercimek köftesi in the summer months.
Red Lentils Nutrition
And there’s certainly no need to feel guilty about what you’re about to eat when you’re making red lentil soup.
These colourful little discs of loveliness are packed with lots of healthy benefits.
- They’re gluten free
- They’re virtually fat free and low in calories
- They’re high in fibre and high in plant-based protein
- They’re packed with Vitamin B and potassium
- They’re also a good source of iron
And, most importantly, this great recipe means your Turkish red lentil soup is going to be delicious!
We’re sure, from the first time you make it, you’ll be making it again and again.
About Our Spicy Turkish Red Lentil Soup Recipe – Kırmızı Mercimek Çorbası
This particular Turkish lentil soup is not to be confused with the famous – and yummy – Ezo Gelin Çorbası which uses bulgur wheat and butter.
So let’s get cracking and get this smooth yet hearty soup on the hob – a big batch of it over a gentle simmer, filling the kitchen with tempting aromas!
Not A Science
The quantities in our simple red lentil soup recipe are just meant as a guide.
As with all soups, you can play around with these to suit your taste.
As well as our star ingredient of red lentils, we’re going to be using these other simple ingredients:
- Onion
- Potato – for extra heartiness
- Tomato – we use fresh tomatoes but you can use tinned tomato if you like
- Spices such as ground cumin and chilli (hot red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper)
- Stock (broth) or water
- Salt and black pepper
- Tasty extras for sprinkling over your hot soup on serving
Aside from the tasty extras, all will be combined in a large pot, given a good stir and that will give us our delicious, easy red lentil soup.
Make A Batch
And the great thing about making a soup like this, of course, is, if it gets too thick, you can just add more stock or water.
And there’s no need to worry about having too much leftover soup.
Allow it to cool and it can be poured into an airtight container and frozen or refrigerated, ready to serve an easy, perfect meal on another day.
Red Lentil Soup Recipe Variations
There are lots of variations to this; stock preferences for a start.
If you want a vegetarian or vegan red lentil soup, you can use plain old water or vegetable stock (vegetable broth).
Or we often make our own chicken stock (chicken broth), as shown in our Turkish tomato and noodle soup recipe.
If you’re feeling a bit under the weather, chicken stock is a great pick-me-up, especially when the weather is cold and damp outside.
Other variations of our kırmızı mercimek çorbası include the addition of one or two chopped carrots and a spoonful of salça – tomato paste.
Carrots are a common addition to many Turkish soups.
And, if you want to go even further down the comfort food route, you can also throw in a handful of rice around 15 minutes before the end of cooking time. Pirinçli kırmızı mercimek çorbası.
Yummy!
And The Essential Added Extras
If you do ever find yourself in a lokanta, eating a bowl of steaming soup, expect a full table top.
A tabletop filled with bowls of salad, fresh chillies (often fiery) and lemon wedges.
Condiments galore and dried thyme, dried mint and chilli flakes are almost always present.
No reason not to replicate this at home.
A squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of dried mint (and extra chilli flakes if you like spicy) is perfect in your red lentil soup.
Oh, and don’t forget a loaf of fresh Turkish crusty bread so that you can tear chunks off and dunk it in your soup.
A real tempter for the taste buds and a great way to stay healthy throughout the colder months.
Spicy Red Lentil Soup Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large saucepan
- 1 wooden spoon
- 1 hand blender
Ingredients
- 150 grams red lentils (approximately)
- 1 large onion (peeled & finely chopped)
- 1 large potato (scrubbed & roughly chopped)
- 1 large tomato (roughly chopped (or 1x400 gram tin))
- 800 millilitres hot water or stock (approximately)
- 1 dessert spoon chilli flakes
- pinch cumin
- salt & pepper (to season)
For The Garnish
- 1 lemon wedge
- ½ teaspoon chilli flakes
- ½ teaspoon dried mint
Instructions
- In a large pan, heat a glug of olive oil.
- Add the potato and onion and keep stirring for a few minutes over a low to medium heat.
- Now add your lentils and mix together.
- Add your chopped tomato, chilli and cumin, then stir.
- Now add your hot water or stock, salt and pepper and stir everything together.
- Bring to the boil and then cover and simmer for around 20 minutes.
- Remove the lid and give your red lentil soup a good stir.
- Add more water or stock if necessary.
- Simmer for a further 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and mash or blend your red lentil soup.
- Ladle your soup into serving bowls and sprinkle your chilli flakes and dried mint over the top.
- Squeeze the juice of the lemon wedge into your soup.
- Now your Turkish red lentil soup is ready for you to enjoy.
Notes
- This healthy Turkish red lentil soup recipe makes large servings.
- Nutritional values per serving are meant as a rough guide only.
- Ingredient measurements are not hard and fast. Approximations will still give you a delicious lentil soup.
- The soup garnish is optional but it is very common in Turkey to add lemon, mint and chillies to red lentil soup.
Nutrition
And there you have it. Our Turkish red lentil soup recipe!
For more recipes, take a look at our collection of Turkish dishes you can make at home.
Afiyet Olsun!
Rania
Sunday 26th of March 2023
Simply delicious
Turkey's For Life
Tuesday 28th of March 2023
hi Rania, thanks a lot for your recipe rating. Much appreciated. We really love red lentil soup! :)
Ruth
Wednesday 26th of January 2022
On the hob simmering away, am most excited. Thanks for this much used recipe
Turkey's For Life
Thursday 27th of January 2022
Oooh, hello, this is a surprise! :) Enjoy your lentil soup and thanks a lot for the rating. Much appreciated. :)
carol kilgar
Thursday 13th of January 2022
Love Turkish soups so will be giving this one a try. Thank you for all your recipes, a little bit of turkey in my kitchen x
Turkey's For Life
Saturday 22nd of January 2022
Hi Carol, thanks a lot for your comment. We love red lentil soup and it's a favourite for many so hope you enjoy it, too. :)
Fallon Gokhman
Tuesday 4th of May 2021
Should the potato be soaked in water beforehand?
Turkey's For Life
Thursday 13th of May 2021
Hi Fallon, no need to soak the potato beforehand for red lentil soup. If you want to, you can, of course. :)
Susan Bakici
Tuesday 3rd of November 2020
Love Turkish Corba Kirmiza mercimek Corba Yayla Corba too.Love Turkish cuisine the Best in the World.look forward to more of your recipes.Teşekkur ederim.
Turkey's For Life
Wednesday 4th of November 2020
Hi susan, thanks a lot for your comment. Currently got a big pan of red lentil soup on the hob. :) We love Turkish cuisine, too. Lots of recipes on the blog. Happy cooking. :)