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Turkish Bride Soup

In Turkey this soup is traditionally fed to a bride the night before her wedding to sustain her through the day ahead. It delivers a deeply satisfying flavour but is quick and easy to make. Don’t skip the lemon and mint – they bring the dish alive.

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

plus infusing

Serves

6–8

Soup

Vegetarian

Potluck

Found in "Essential Volume One: Best-Ever Meals for Busy Lives"

Ingredients

6 tbsp butter, or extra-virgin olive oil

3 onions, finely chopped

3 tbsp tomato paste

1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, or plain paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 1/2 cups red lentils

3/4 cup bulgur , or cracked wheat

12 cups (3 litres) vegetable stock, or water

1 1/2 tbsp dried mint

2 tbsp chopped mint

2 tbsp lemon juice

salt and freshly ground black pepper

TO GARNISH

1 cup plain yoghurt

lemon cheeks

extra mint leaves

Method

Heat the butter in a large, heavy-based pot and cook the onions over a gentle heat until very soft (about 10 minutes).

Stir in tomato paste, paprika and cayenne and cook for another minute.

Mix in lentils and bulgur or cracked wheat, then add stock or water.

Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a low simmer and continue to cook for a further 30 minutes, stirring now and then.

Remove from heat and stir in the dried mint, fresh mint and lemon juice.

Adjust seasonings, including cayenne pepper, to taste, cover and leave to infuse for 10 minutes

Turkish Bride Soup can be made ahead to this point, kept in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated when needed.

When ready to serve, bring back to a simmer.

Divide between serving bowls, swirl in a little yoghurt and serve with lemon wedges and mint leaves.

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