Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek)

Ingredients

• 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
• 1 onion + 1 carrot + 1 potato, diced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp cumin + 1 tsp aleppo pepper
• 5 cups stock
• Butter + more aleppo (chili butter)
• Lemon wedges, bread

Method

1. Soften the onion, carrot, and potato in oil, stir in the tomato paste and cumin, then add the lentils and stock.
2. Simmer 20–25 minutes until everything is falling apart, then blend completely smooth — that silkiness is the whole point.
3. Season well; it should taste rich but crave lemon.
4. Drizzle with aleppo chili butter and serve with lemon wedges and bread.