Looking for an easy to make lentil soup recipe full of flavor? This Turkish red lentil soup recipe is delicious, healthy and quick to make. Sure to become one of your favorite soup recipes.
One of our go-to dishes when we travel is roast chicken. And there are 2 really good reasons. We enjoy a really good Roast Chicken. And the added bonus is being able to make a good flavored stock with the leftover carcass and bones. And from the stock we can make a risotto, a pilaf or a really good soup like this Turkish red lentil soup. It’s like getting 2 meals for the price of 1 and all relatively healthy and easy to do.
Making soup is true slow cooking at its best. There is a little up-front work chopping vegetables but then it’s mindless as the soup cooks and fills your house with wonderful aromas.
Soup is popular in Turkey and now having visited I understand why. I wasn’t mentally prepared for the cold winter temperatures. For some reason I had this impression that Turkey was a warm climate (and it is in summer). But the winters are often very cold. There are many high mountains that are snow-covered throughout the winter and most of spring. Indeed it snowed on 2 days in late April when we visited Cappadocia.
True to the guild system developed in the royal kitchens, the soup makers had their own guild so it is not surprising that soups are so delicious in Turkey.
On special occasions, it is normal to have a 5 course banquet, where a pot of soup is always the first course. The host has the responsibility for providing all the food at a Turkish dinner for friends or family. No taking of “pot luck” and yes Turkey is where that phrase came from!
Prepare yourself for copious amounts of bread served with soup. Receiving a whole, large loaf of bread to go with soup for a table of 2 is not uncommon! Sometimes this would be a crusty loaf and at other times what we would call Turkish Bread (soft and airy).
In winter, it is common to have a pot of soup keeping warm on the kitchen stove. Red Lentil Soup is particularly popular and is eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner! It has a reputation for being a go-to dish when things are not going well. It can bring on better luck!
Other popular Turkish soups include Yoghurt Soup and Mushroom Soup. The soups are tasty without being overly spicy. And quite filling. Many locals would have a large bowl for a warming lunch on a chilly day before going about their afternoon business.
There are many variations to this dish. I hope you enjoy this easy but satisfying dish.
More Warming Winter Soup Recipes
If you fancy some other, warming soup recipes to try that are perfect for winter, try one of these:
Some favorites from South East Asia are Tom Yum Soup from Thailand and Beef Noodle Pho from Vietnam. Both classics.
Butternut Squash Soup and Black Bean Soup are popular all around the world for good reason. And both are easy to make.
And, another Turkish option is Yogurt Soup. Yes, who would have thought! But, don’t underestimate it as it is popular throughout Turkey.
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 4people | 15minutes | 35minutes |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4people | 15minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 35minutes |
- 1/2 lb lentils, red
- 1 onion, brown diced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsps pepper paste *
- 1 tsp paprika, mild
- 1 eggplant diced into cubes*
- 2.5 pints chicken stock or vegetable stock*
- salt, ground sea
- black pepper, ground
- 1 tsp mint, dried dried*
- chili flakes
- 4 lemons wedges
|
Ingredients
Servings: people
Units:
|
- In a colander rinse the lentils well under cold water. Put aside to drain.
- In a pan large enough to hold the soup, melt the butter gently. Over a low to medium heat, add the onions and gently stir. Turn up the heat and add the pepper paste, paprika and eggplant. Stir for 2 minutes. Then add the lentils and stock. Bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and allow the soup to simmer for about 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes the lentils should be breaking down. Turn off the heat. Check for seasoning adding sea salt and ground pepper to taste.
- Serve the soup into 4 bowls. Provide chilli flakes, lemon wedges and dried mint for the table.
The Turkish pepper paste gives this soup an underlying depth of flavor. You could use tomato paste instead.
It’s not mandatory to add the eggplant but it gives more substance to the dish. You could also use carrots. Omit the vegetables if you are looking for a lighter summer soup.
Vegetarians can use vegetable stock.
Dried mint can be substituted with fresh mint or fresh parsley.
Vicki @ Boiled Eggs & Soldiers
this sounds delicious – I love having soups for lunch so I will add eggplant to my shopping list so I can make it. Thanks for sharing with YWF too.
Editor
This soup is seriously delicious. The ingredients might not look that exciting but honestly it is divine.
Farida
This sounds so interesting, since we Arabs mainly make vegan red lentil soup, love using butter too and chicken stock too!
Editor
Farida, it is such an easy soup with simple ingredients but somehow it just tastes great. I think the dried mint at the end is the secret. Thanks for your comment.
Heather
This is a beautiful recipe!! It’s so hard to find recipes that use mint but this is perfect!! I will be trying this when the weather cools down 🙂
Editor
Hi Heather. You are right about the mint, it gives the soup a real lift. Cheers….Mark
Byron Thomas
This looks delicious! Love your blog!
Editor
Byron, It is a very tasty soup. I am glad you like our blog, thanks for visiting.
Priya
Healthy and delicious! So flavourful too!
Editor
Hi Priya. Sorry for my slow reply. The flavor is surprisingly good too. Cheers….Mark
Agata
We eat a lot of soups but I have to admit, I’ve never had a lentil soup before.
Editor
Agata, Try it, you’ll never know it’s lentils. It’s just a delicious soup.
Anne Murphy
I enjoy red lentil soup, but I don’t think I’ve put eggplant in it… and it sounds like a wonderful combination. This will happen – we have a lot of eggplant, and I was just looking for new ideas!
Editor
Thanks Anne. The eggplant certainly gives it more substance and makes it a heartier meal and it does not detract from the taste. Cheers….Mark
Piyali Mutha
Turkey is a beautiful country and through my own travels I could see familiar grounds in your post. What a lovely post this is. A nice visual of your travel through pictures and words. The soup wholesome, hearty and scrumptious. A true Turkish delight.
Editor
Piyali thanks for your kind comments. We weren’t prepared for the fact that Turkey would be such a stunningly beautiful place. Cheers….Mark
The Gifted Gabber
This looks really hearty and tasty. I grew up eating lentils, but my mom primarily prepares it one way which is now the way I prepare them – basically stewed with onions and seasonings. I will have to consider this recipe this fall when I get the hankering for a soup or stew. Visiting via Comment Happy Hour.
Editor
Thanks for your comment. We love eating lentils in curries, soups and stews. And it is a bonus that they are good for you and are relatively cheap. Cheers….Mark