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Turkish Red Lentil Soup

Quick, easy, and heartwarming, this Turkish Red Lentil Soup is the perfect solution for busy weeknight dinners, full of protein and nutrients while being budget-friendly.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Turkish
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish (Optional)
  • lemon wedges For serving
  • fresh parsley For garnish

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and carrots, sautéing until they start to soften (about 5 minutes).
  2. Toss in the minced garlic, cumin, and paprika, stirring for about a minute until fragrant.
  3. Stir in the rinsed red lentils and pour in the vegetable broth.
  4. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Once bubbles are popping up, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes.
  5. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth, or blend in batches with a regular blender.
  6. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste and serve hot with lemon wedges and parsley.

Notes

For added heat, include red pepper flakes or hot sauce. This soup tastes even better the next day, making it a great make-ahead option.