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- Traditional Turkish Lentil Patties Mercimek Köftesi
Traditional Turkish Lentil Patties Mercimek Köftesi
Ingredients
Step by step process
Prepare the lentils
- 1
Turkish lentil patties start with cooked red lentils, rinse the red lentils under running water and let them drain in a sieve.
- 2
Finely chop the red onion, slice the spring onion, and chop the parsley.
- 3
Measure out the bulgur and prepare the remaining ingredients.
Make the köfte
- 4
Bring water to a boil in a pot and add the rinsed red lentils.
- 5
Simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes, until the lentils are very soft and most of the water has evaporated, a mushy texture is desirable.
- 6
Remove from heat, add the bulgur, stir, and cover. Let rest for 10 minutes until the bulgur swells.
- 7
Heat the olive oil in a pan and gently sauté the red onion until soft.
- 8
Add the tomato paste, sweet paprika, and ground cumin, stir briefly, and remove from heat.
- 9
Fold the sautéed onion and spices into the lentil-bulgur mixture, then add lemon juice, salt, and ground black pepper.
- 10
Stir in the chopped spring onion and parsley. Reserve some for garnish.
- 11
Once the mixture has cooled slightly and is pliable, shape it with your hands into oval patties or finger-sized rolls.
Serve
- 12
Arrange the finished köfte on lettuce leaves on a plate or platter.
- 13
Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled, garnished with the reserved parsley and fresh lemon wedges.
More tips:
If the mixture is too sticky, let it cool or add a little more bulgur and allow it to absorb until the mixture can be shaped easily.
For extra freshness, stir in a handful of chopped mint or cilantro at the end.
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Topic: Turkish Cuisine
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