Mercimek Köftesi Turkish Red Lentil Kofte Vegan Recipes

MERCIMEK KOFTESI (LENTIL BALLS)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the lentils, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then simmer uncovered over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are soft and have absorbed most of the water, about 10 minutes. Stir in the bulgur and remove from the heat. Cover and set aside until the bulgur is very soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a small skillet over low heat, heat the oil and add the onion, sautéing until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato and pepper pastes and mix well. Remove from the heat and cool. Add cumin, crushed red pepper and black pepper. Season with salt to taste.
• Add the onion mixture to the lentil mixture and toss to mix. Add the scallions and parsley, mixing gently. Line a platter or individual serving plates with lettuce leaves. With dampened hands, form the lentil mixture into oval walnut-size balls, placing them on top of the lettuce. Serve immediately, or cover lightly and refrigerate up to one hour.

MERCIMEK KöFTESI TURKISH RED LENTIL KOFTE (VEGAN)

Steps:

• Boil the lentils in the water, uncovered, until they soak up most of the water, about 25-30 minutes.
• Add the bulgar and salt. Mix once and loosely cover to let the bulgar expand, then remove from the heat and let rest on a potholder about 10 minutes to let it cool off.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and add the chopped onion and cook until soft, about 10-15 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste and cook another 1-2 minutes.
• Add the cumin and remove pan from heat. Stir once the heat is off.
• Add the onion-tomato paste-cumin mixture to the pot with lentils and bulgar, which should be cool by now. Add a few shakes of cayenne pepper to heat it up if you like.
• Add half of your parsley (about 1-1.5 tablespoons worth), the green onions, and lemon juice to the pot, and mix well.
• Take pieces of the kofte out of the pot and form them into kofte shape. The same size and shape as a Twinkie works, though traditional kofte is about half the size of a Twinkie.
• You can then arrange the lettuce leaves on a big plate and serve that way, but the real deal way to eat them is wrapping each kofte up in a lettuce leaf.

TURKISH RED LENTIL SOUP (KIRMIZI MERCIMEK ÇORBASI)

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 10 to 12 cups of water; add lentils, 2 teaspoons salt, cover and reduce heat, letting simmer for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat another pot, over medium heat, and add onions, cover with olive oil, and 1 teaspoon salt; once it begins to sizzle, reduce heat to low and cover for about 5 minutes.
• To the second pot, add bulgur, pepper, cayenne, and cumin; stir until lightly browned.
• Add tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, and 4 cups chicken broth; bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.
• Pour the contents of the second pot into the large soup pot with the lentils; cover and simmer until the bulgur and the lentils are soft, about an additional 40 minutes.
• You may add additional water if you like a thinner soup (as we do).
• Stir in lemon juice or vinegar; serve a dollop of yogurt with each serving, if desired.