In a pot, peel 1 onion and sauté it whole in 1 tea glass (about 100 ml / 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp) of vegetable oil. Peel and grate 1 large carrot and 1 large potato over the onion, then sauté again. Add 1 dessert spoon of mint and 1 tablespoon of salça (Turkish tomato/pepper paste) and stir for a moment. Add 2 water glasses of washed and picked red lentils and 1 tea glass of fine bulgur (cracked wheat). Pour in enough water to cover by 4 fingers' width, then add 1 dessert spoon of red pepper and 1 dessert spoon of salt, and cook until done. Once the soup is cooked, remove the whole onion from the pot.

About This Recipe

Lentils are the flat, small seeds of a white-flowering plant in the legume family — modest in size but enormous in nutritional value, appearing sometimes red or yellow, sometimes green. Their scientific name in the family is Lens culinaris. All species within the genus Lens are called lentils because of their lens-like shape. They are cultivated in two seasons: summer and winter. Lentils are a fiber-rich, high-protein food and are particularly abundant in B vitamins as well as minerals such as iron, calcium, sodium, copper, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus. They have been cultivated since ancient times and come in four varieties: red, green, yellow, and brown. In Turkish kitchens, red and green lentils are the most commonly used.

The Mediterranean and Western Asian countries are considered the regions where this important member of the legume family was first cultivated. In Turkey, lentils are grown especially in the Central Anatolia Region, the Southeastern Anatolia Region, and in Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa.
This special food strengthens the blood and is one of the most iron-rich foods available. It aids blood production in weak and ill individuals. It strengthens the nerves and helps heal damaged ones. It serves as an energy source for people engaged in strenuous work. It softens the intestines and helps prevent constipation. It speeds up blood flow and protects heart and vascular health. When consumed during pregnancy, it supports the health of both mother and baby. One of the most notable properties of lentils is their ability to increase breast milk production. They are also known to enhance the nutritional value and quality of breast milk.

Today we have prepared our Homemade Ezogelin Soup (Ezogelin Çorbası) recipe for you. You should also definitely try our legendary Ayran Aşı Soup recipe sometime. Bon appétit in advance…