Vegan Turkish Red Lentil Soup
Vegan Turkish Red Lentil Soup is a hearty and nutritious dish that captures the essence of Turkish cuisine. Made without any animal products, this soup is a plant-based twist on the classic Turkish lentil soup. The recipe typically involves red lentils, which cook down to a creamy consistency, creating a satisfying and velvety texture. Commonly flavored with aromatic spices like cumin and paprika, the soup is known for its rich and robust taste.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 Turkish bay leaves
- 6 cups vegetable broth
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups red lentils, picked over and rinsed
- 1 ½ tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups water
- 4 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 lemon, sliced into wedges
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and 1 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add thyme sprigs, garlic, cumin, and bay leaves; cook, stirring, for 1 minute more.
- Add vegetable broth, tomatoes, red lentils, tomato paste, oregano, remaining salt, and pepper to the saucepan. Cover partially and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are very soft and falling apart, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Let soup cool briefly, about 10 minutes. Transfer 4 cups of soup to a blender; blend until smooth. Mix back into the saucepan. Stir in water. Ladle soup into bowls; garnish with chopped parsley and a squirt of lemon juice.
Nutrition
Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 16gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1092mgPotassium: 903mgSugar: 5gVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 149mgIron: 7mg
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