Wednesday 4 February 2009

Turkish Red Lentil Soup

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As some of you who read this blog regularly will know, I really do like soup and I also really like potatoes. Therefor a soup that is made with potatoes just has to be good in my opinion and when I saw that this month's No Croutons Required challenge is to post about a soup or salad containing potatoes I knew I'd be up for it. Thanks Holler from Tinned Tomatoes for choosing such a great ingredient.

This Turkish Red Lentil Soup is one of the easiest soups I know, with very few and simple store cupboard ingredients, but the end results is so full of flavour that it's hard to believe that there is nothing else in it. (Lucy, if you're reading, this is one to make at your hermitage.)

Photobucket

Turkish Red Lentil Soup (serves 4)

1 cup red lentils, washed and cleaned
4 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup onions, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup white potato, peeled and diced
2 tsp paprika
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)

Place the washed and cleaned lentils into a soup pot together with with the stock, potatoes, onions, garlic and paprika.

Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Loosely place a lid on the pan. Cook for 40-40 minutes until the lentils are tender.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Place all but 1 cup of the soup into a blender or food processor and blend briefly. Return blended soup to the pan with the un-blended soup and briefly heat through again before serving.

37 comments:

Lucy May Schofield said...

Oh Sylvie, I'll be making it tomorrow for luncheon! I've just finished 3 days of carrot and lentil soup, so this will be a lovely 2nd soup to warm me. It's only just started snowing today, after threatening since monday. Missing you x

Sylvie said...

Lucy, I hope you also eat something a little more substantial than soup some time! We all miss you to. We were talking about you just now over drinks at Kro, because Emily is over from Sweden again and really wanted to meet you. x

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

All we do to do is mention potatoes and I am so there:D

Peter M said...

I love this creamed version of lentil soup and it's classy to look at.

Mrs Ergül said...

Wow, I have never put potatoes in my turkish soup! I might give it a try!

And it is a great idea to blend just 1 cup of the soup, I have tried blending all of it and my hubby says it taste like baby food texture-wise!

Lisa said...

Lentil soup is one of my favorites! Your photo is so appealing. I would love to have a taste. Guess I'd better make some.

Marie Rayner said...

I love potatoes and I love lentils. I know I would love this soup!! Thanks for posting!

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Simple, but delicious Silvie! This is the perfect Winter soup, especially with all this cold snowy weather. Thanks for entering it into No Croutons Required.

Anne said...

Lovely looking soup, have a small amount of potatoes to use up and loads of red lentils so this sounds perfect!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful soup. I love the flavouring of paprika and garlic!

Sam said...

This sound like the perfect soup for the cold weather we've been having, and so easy too.

Jan said...

Sylvie I have a pack of red lentils that I bought a while ago and never got round to using them so I will be giving this a go!!

Anonymous said...

This sounds so simple, I've always got a few potatoes left over at the end of the week so it's a perfect dish for using everything up.

Rosie said...

Oh Sylvie, this is a great soup to send to Holler for her event! I mst try this recipe out ;0)

Rosie x

Susan Morris said...

Your soup looks really good Sylvie. I have tucked the recipe away in my "must try" folder.

Gloria Baker said...

Sytlvie really love lentils and this look awesome!!! xGloria

Dewi said...

Sounds like comforting soup.
Cheers,
Elra

Sylvie said...

Val, you and me both.

Peter, thanks.

Mrs Ergul, I often just blend 2/3 or so of a soup and keep some chunky bits.

Lisa, it so easy to make and ready in no time.

Marie, thanks.

Holler, thanks for organising the challenge.

Anne, if you try it let me know what you think.

Maninas, the original didn't have the garlic, but it is so much better with it in.

Sam, I'm ready for the weather to get warmer now. I like soup on a cold night, but I like spring even more.

Jan, Rosie and Sue let me know what you think of it if you try the recipe!

Ginger, this is definitely that kind of recipe or one for the days when the cupboards are pretty bare, but you don't wanna go shopping.

Gloria, thank you.

Elra, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.

pigpigscorner said...

I love my soups too! This sounds like a wonderful soup with lentils and paprika...nice flavours.

Anonymous said...

This looks delicious, Sylvie! Yum. I adore pulses, this looks like a lovely way to cook them.

Niamh

Lucs said...

Sylvie, your lovely soup was everything it promised. Flavoursome, minimal ingredients and - most appreciated - minimal effort after a long day ferrying family to doctor/hospital/vet appts. All home safe and well to enjoy your comforting soup. Thanks so much.

Sylvie said...

pigpigscorner, the flavours really do combine really well.

Niamh, pulses are great, aren't they, and so economic.

Lucs, thanks for trying the soup. I'm so happy you enjoyed it as much as I do.

Anne said...

I did my usual trick of going to make your lovely soup last night and realised the recipe was on my desk, at work! Love the potato texture in it, really smooth, I also added chilli powder instead of paprika and forgot the garlic but it still came out good! :)

Sylvie said...

Anne, I've done the same things a few times and I end up with my laptop in the kitchen, getting food all over it. I'm glad you liked the soup.

test it comm said...

That lentil soup looks good. I have been wanting to use lentils more often.

Dazy said...

I like soups in winter, warming nourishing and usually make my own.
This one looks little thin and my kids like thick one though. It would be healthy too for them.

Unknown said...

I just made this soup for company and I didn't have much time. It was for friends ending their Ramadan fast. It was a hit. Everyone thought it was delicious including me. I used 3 cups of chicken broth because that was open, then added vegetable broth and a little water. I pureed all of it in the blender because I cut pieces that were too big because I was in a hurry. I'll be making it again.

Anonymous said...

lovely soup! try adding a bit of cumin into it, and finishing with a little freshly squeezed lemon...excellent!

Anonymous said...

Nice. I stumbled on this using the Googles. I used a tbsp of curry powder instead of 2 tsp of paprika, and added some chopped celery. I always tweek recipes, but am glad to of found this as a base.

Cheers!

pixie said...

I just made this soup today (Google, also) and it is SO GOOD. I think I might add a teeny bit of ground ginger next time, too. I pureed about half of it and the texture is perfect. Thank you!

we said...

I made your soup last night after hearing about it from pixie. It's delicious! It is certain to be a regular in our home, though I'll have to double the recipe next time because there was barely a bowl left after our little family of 3 devoured it. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Great receipt. The only thing I would suggest is to squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice on top of each bowl of soup before surving. I also add more garlic but I'm a hoe for garlic.

Unknown said...

love to try this out i love lentil soup. what do you think though of combining the ingredients and slow cooking them. hubby is in afghan and with 3 little uns to run after standing cooking a new recipe isnt a time option for me. do you think i could slow cook the recipe and then in the evening blend it and serve. any hints. thanks for the idea though ill be bookmarking your blog from now on xx

Sylvie said...

Michelle, thanks for your lovely comment. I've never tried doing this in a slow cooker, so can't advise you on that really, sorry. I can't see why it wouldn't work though.

Anonymous said...

Made this once already, second time currently on my stove. Great recipe, so simple and easy with little washing up! Thank you for sharing it :-)

Dora said...

Yay, I just finished eating a serving of this soup! It tasted reaaaaally good, I added some extra spices there, and it was amazing. I will definitely try it again, thank you!

Anonymous said...

I cut out the potato and added 1.5 limes at the end. Tastes delicious!