Turkish red lentil soup (mercimek çorbası)

What I ate basically everyday for lunch when I lived in Turkey, and continue to make at home because it's just that good.

My kids love this soup (they skip the Aleppo pepper, but go hard on the lemon)… you can even see one of them peering down at the soup in the reflection in the spoon in this picture :)

Turkish red lentil soup (mercimek çorbası)

1/4 cup butter or extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
1 large potato, peeled and diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups red lentils, rinsed
6+ cups broth of choice (I usually use 2 tablespoons Better than Bouillion in 6 cups water - chicken, beef, or vegetable work)
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Optional: pinch of cumin

For serving (not optional!):
Aleppo pepper flakes¹
Fresh lemon wedges, 2 per person
Bread for dipping

1. Heat oil or butter in a medium-sized pot. Add onions and saute on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes.

2. Add potato and carrots and continue to saute until slightly softened and beginning to caramelize on the edges, another 10 minutes.

3. Add lentils and broth, and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and allow to cook, uncovered, until lentils are completely softened, about 20 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and puree with an immersion blender (or carefully transfer to a regular blender once slightly cooled). Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add additional broth if needed to thin soup to desired consistency. If the soup is too thin, it can be thickened with a roux (equal parts butter and flour by weight, cooked until toasty and fragrant, and whisked into the soup).

5. Serve with Aleppo pepper flakes, lemon wedges, and bread.

1. Crushed red pepper flakes are really not a good substitute here! (And honestly, I don't understand why people even use them for anything…but let's hash it out if you think otherwise!). Aleppo pepper flakes are milder (therefore create build-able heat) and don't have annoying seeds and uneven pieces. I think you’ll decide to start using them everywhere instead of crushed red pepper flakes once you try them... #nomorecrushedredpepperflakes