{"id":4686,"date":"2024-03-01T23:01:33","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T23:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hadiaslebanesecuisine.com\/blog\/?p=4686"},"modified":"2026-09-22T23:41:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T23:41:04","slug":"turkish-red-lentil-soup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hadiaslebanesecuisine.com\/blog\/turkish-red-lentil-soup\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkish Red Lentil Soup"},"content":{"rendered":"

With its simple ingredients and soul-warming essence, this authentic Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek \u00c7orbas\u0131)<\/strong> has become a new favorite in our household.<\/p>\n

With the month of Ramadan quickly approaching, many cooks will be looking for new soup ideas. Turkish Red Lentil Soup, or Mercimek \u00c7orbas\u0131, is one of those comforting soups that calms hunger, eases the tension of the day, and awakens the appetite after a long day of fasting. Yes, it is truly satisfying\u2014and knowing how nourishing and healthful it is adds another layer of contentment.<\/p>\n

The soup has received a thumbs-up from friends and guests who have enjoyed it at my house. In addition to all its other virtues, it is also vegan and gluten-free.<\/p>\n

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Lentil soups, such as Teta Roro\u2019s Brown Lentil Soup and Lebanese Red Lentil Soup, are ones I often keep on hand when we need a little comfort or nourishment. They are also a must on our Ramadan iftar table.<\/p>\n

The two soups are often pitted against each other, with folks divided into either brown- or red-lentil-soup lovers. I really love them both, so it\u2019s hard for me to take sides. I\u2019m also proud that these soups have become favorites among so many of my readers. But the question was: Would I be able to step outside my comfort zone and find a lentil soup other than those two\u2014and Adas Bhamod\u2014that I would love just as much?<\/p>\n

With this Turkish Red Lentil Soup, or Mercimek \u00c7orbas\u0131, the answer is a resounding yes. Make it, and I promise you\u2019ll be sitting down to a scrumptious dinner in 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

This recipe is a copycat of a soup I had during my last visit to Istanbul just a few weeks ago. Ramzi took me to At\u00f6lye, the restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Istanbul. \u201cYou\u2019re going to eat one of the best soups in the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A little while later, a server brought us two giant bowls of red lentil soup. I took a sip, and we sat down to finish it in silence. I so wished the bowl could last forever. I simply could not get over how good it was\u2014rich and velvety in texture, with such a unique flavor profile.<\/p>\n

During our visit, we had a record number of bowls of Mercimek \u00c7orbas\u0131 at different restaurants, but nothing came close to the one we had at the Ritz.<\/p>\n

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Blessed by a divine culinary power\u2014what a compliment!<\/h2>\n

The soup stayed highlighted in my memory. When I returned home, I wanted to give Ramzi the same unforgettable experience we had at the Ritz. As an enthusiastic cook, I was curious to replicate that same taste, and I took it as a serious challenge\u2014a friendly competition with myself\u2014to develop a new soup-making skill and create something truly decadent.<\/p>\n

After much asking, testing, and tasting, I met that goal and even exceeded it. Yes, I discovered the fabled secret formula that elevated the whole soup and added an incredible layer of flavor.<\/p>\n

Who would have guessed that heating dried mint leaves and other aromatic ingredients, such as pul biber, paprika, and cayenne, in olive oil would make the soup taste that good? The spices and herbs are dropped into hot olive oil for just a few seconds, until their fragrance blooms. The heat and oil help draw out the aromatic flavors from the herbs and spices, creating a flavorful concoction that is poured warm over the soup as a finishing touch and then incorporated with an immersion blender.<\/p>\n

When Ramzi tasted the soup, he said, \u201cYou are blessed by a divine culinary power.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coming from a picky-eater husband, this meant the world to me!<\/p>\n

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Ingredients:<\/h3>\n