Turkish everyday soup · 35 minutes
Mercimek Corbasi Recipe (Turkish Red Lentil Soup)
Rinse the lentils. Potato for body. Paprika butter on top.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenMercimek corbasi is the red lentil soup served in every Turkish lokanta and at the start of iftar. It turns grainy or thin when the lentils are not cooked through. The fix is rinsing red lentils well, adding a potato and carrot for body, simmering until completely soft, and blending until silky before finishing with paprika butter.
The 3 laws of mercimek corbasi
Why this recipe works
Unwashed
Removes foam and starch.
Lentils only
Natural creaminess.
Plain
The signature finish.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Soup
Topping
The NineFoods soup gauge
Is it smooth enough?
Pour a ladle back in.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Base
- Soften onion, carrot and potato in oil; add paste.
Simmer
- Add lentils, water and cumin; simmer until completely soft.
- Blend smooth. Use the gauge above.
Top
- Sizzle butter with paprika and mint; drizzle over bowls with lemon.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Not cooked enough.
Fix next time
Cook until lentils fall apart.
Why
No acid.
Fix next time
Serve with lemon.
Why
Too much water.
Fix next time
Reduce or add potato.
Why
Hot butter.
Fix next time
Add paprika off the heat.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Red lentils | Base | Yellow split lentils (masoor) |
| Potato | Body | A spoon of rice or bulgur |
| Pepper paste | Depth | Tomato paste |
| Butter topping | Finish | Olive oil with chilli |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Lemon, bread and a salad.
Store
Fridge 4 days; freezes 3 months.
Reheat
Low heat with water; it thickens.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 6 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it smooth enough) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Mercimek Corbasi FAQ
What is mercimek corbasi?
Turkish red lentil soup.
Do I need to soak red lentils?
No, just rinse them.
Is it vegan?
Yes, finish with oil instead of butter.
Why is it served at iftar?
It is light and gentle for breaking the fast.