MERCIMEK KÖFTESI
This Turkish dish consists in spicy
nuggets composed of tender coral lentil
and bulgur. It is flavored with cumin and
hot chilli pepper. It’s a spicy hot dish
that can be served with a fresh lettuce
INGREDIENTS
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Red lentils – 1 cup
Water – 4 cups
Fine bulgur – 2 cups
Cumin – 2 tsps
Salt – 2 tsps
Onion – 1 middle size
Parsley – half bunch (should
make around 1 cup when
chopped)
Tomato paste – 1 tbsp
Hot red peper paste – 1/2 tbsp
Recipe
Boil the lentils in the water until they get completely melted. During the process of boiling, stir
the lentils occasionally so that it gets melted easierly. As the boling of lentils finish, pour the
bulgur into the lentils, add the salt and the cumin, stir them very well with a wooden spoon.
Close the lid of the pot and let the mixture rest for a while. Meanwhile, chop the onions finely
and fry them in olive oil with tomato and peper pastes. When the onion gets golden brown,
pour this mixture and finely chopped parsleys into the lentil-bulgur mixture and keep stirring
again until all get mixed well enough. Let the mixture cool about 10-15 mins with no lid
closed. As they get cool enough, shape your lentil balls as shown in the picture.
8